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The   ADVENTURE   Of 
The   LADY     U  RSULA 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2007  with  funding  from 

IVIicrosoft  Corporation 


http://www.archive.org/details/adventureofladyuOOhawkiala 


r-&^  ADVENTURE 

of 

The  LADY  URSULA 


A   Comedy  in   Four  Acts 
BY 

Anthony     Hope 


New  York  :  R.  H.  Russell 

MDCCCXCVIII 


HIS  play  is  fully  protected  by  the 
copyright  law,  all  requirements  of 
which  have  been  complied  with.  In 
its  present  printed  form  it  is  dedicated  to  the 
reading  public  only,  and  no  performances  of  it 
may  be  given,  except  by  special  arrangement 
with  the  owner  of  the  acting  rights,  who  may  be 
addressed  in  care  of  the  publisher. 

Copyright,    1898 
By    ROBERT    HOWARD    RUSSELL 

Printed  in  the  United  States 


NO  TE 

HE  play  is  here  given  as  it  left  the 
author's  hands.  It  is  presented  on 
the  stage  without  important  or  sub- 
stantial alterations  but  with  a  few  changes  of 
detaily  due  to  the  taste  and  experience  of  those 
under  whose  auspices  Lady  Ursula  made  her 
appearance  on  the  boards,  and  to  whom  the 
author  takes    this  opportunity  of  rendering  his 

cordial  and  grateful  thanks, 

A,  H. 


A    COMEDY    IN    FOUR    ACTS 


Characters 


The  EARL  OF  HASSENDEN 

SIR  GEORGE  SYLVESTER 

The  Rev.  Mr.  BLIMBOE 

Mr.  DENT 

Mr.  CASTLETON 

SIR  ROBERT  CLIFFORD 

Mr.  WARD 

Mr.  DEVEREUX 

QUILTON 

MILLS 

SERVANT 

Miss  DOROTHY  FENTON  Betrothed  to  Lord  Hassenden 

Mrs.  FENTON  Her  Aunt 

The  LADY  URSULA  BARRINGTON 

Lord  Hassenden' s  Sister 


►  Officers  in  the  Foot  Guards 

Servant  to  Lord  Hassenden 
Servant  to  Sir  George  Sylvester 
At  Lord  Hassenden's  town  lodging 


The  period  of  this  play  is  about  iy6o-'/0.  The  action  takes 
place  between  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  a  day  in  October 
and  one  o'clock  the  next  morning. 

ACT  I.  passes  at  Lord  Hassenden's  house  at  Edgware  near 
London, 

ACT  II.  at  Sir  George  Sylvester's  house  in  the  same  village, 
ACT  III.  at  Lord  Hassenden's  town  lodgings  near  St.  fames', 
ACT  IV.  again  at  Sir  George  Sylvester's. 


[Ivl 


The  ADVENTURE  of 
r>6^  LADY  URSULA 


A  C  T    I 

^be  Earl  of  Hassenden's  house  at  Edgware  near 
London  —  between  four  and  five  on  an  Autumn 
afternoon.  A  window  back  C.,^  door  L.,  afire- 
place  R.  Room  is  panelled ;  in  the  panel  L., 
below  door,  is  a  full-length  mirror.  Dorothy 
stands  by  window,  Mrs.  Fenton  sits  by  fire- 
place, Blimboe  stands  L.  C. 

Mrs.  F e n t on. 

iF  your  leisure  is  exhausted,  sir,  I  must  not  beg 
you  to  stay  ;  but  I  regret  that  on  your  first  visit 
as  rector  of  the  parish  you  have  not  found  Lady 
Ursula  at  home. 

Blimboe. 
I  share  your  regret  to  the  full,  ma'am. 

Mrs.  Fenton. 

Dorothy,  shouldn't  Ursula  be  back  from  her  walk  soon  ? 


2       The    ADVENTURE    of 

Dorothy. 
I  —  I  don*t  know  when  she'll  be  back.  Aunt. 

B  L  I  M  B  O  £. 

I  fear  I  must  take  my  leave.     Sir  George  Sylvester  expects  me. 

As  you  may  have  heard,  I  am  his  guest  until  my  parsonage  is 

ready. 

Dorothy. 

\^Coming  down   C]     Sir  George  is  an  old  friend  of  yours, 

isn't  he  ? 

B  L  I  M  B  O  £. 

Yes,  and  a  good  friend.     He  gave  me  the  living.  Miss  Fenton. 

Dorothy. 

He  doesn't  visit  here.     We  have  never  seen  him,  though  Lord 
Hassenden  used  to  meet  him  in  towTi  formerly. 

B  L  I  M  B  O  £. 
You  must  pardon  his  rudeness.     You  know  the  story  ? 

Dorothy. 

Something  about  a  duel  ? 

Blimboe. 
Yes,  he  killed  his  best  friend  in  duel. 

Dorothy. 
About  —  about  a  lady,  wasn't  it,  Mr.  Blimboe  ? 

Blimboe. 
Yes,  and  I  fear  she  was  not  worth  one  good  man's  life  and 
another's  bitter  grief. 

Mrs.  Fenton. 

I'm  sure  of  it. 

Blimboe. 

So  he  has  sworn  to  fight  no  more,  to  go  no  more  into  the  society 

of  women,  and  to  admit  no  lady  to  his  house. 


r>6^    LADY    URSULA        3 

Dorothy. 

Surely,   Mr.   Blimboe,   you  don't  approve  of  such  barbarous 

oaths  ? 

Blimboe. 

The  second  part  only  is  barbarous  —  and  the  first  only  has  my 

approval. 

Mrs.  Fenton. 

Yes,  but  it*s  true  enough  that  wherever  women  come,  quarrels 

come.     These  duels  are  fearful  things.     Pray,  Mr.  Blimboe,  have 

you  read  in  the  Postboy  of  the  affair  in  Dublin  ?     Lord  Hassenden 

says  the  town  is  ringing  with  it. 

Dorothy. 

What  was  it  ? 

Blimboe. 

Yes,  yes  —  between  Colonel  Joicey  and  Mr.  McArthur. 

Mrs.  Fenton. 
Brothers-in-law  ! 

Dorothy. 

And  they  fought  ?     What  was  the  quarrel  about  ? 

Blimboe. 

About 

Mrs.  Fenton. 

It's  of  no  consequence  about  what.     They  fought  after  dinner, 

across  the  table. 

Dorothy. 

What,  lunging  with  their  swords  among  the  decanters  ?     Oh, 

they  must  have  looked  absurd.  j 

Mrs.  Fenton. 

They  fought  with  pistols,  child. 

Blimboe. 
Pardon  me,  ma*  am,  you  may  more  truly  say  with  one  pistol. 


4       The    ADVENTURE    of 

for   the   other   was    unloaded.       Each    combatant   drew   one   at 

random. 

Mrs.  Fenton. 

Yes,   and  Mr.    McArthur  drew  the  right  one  and  shot  the 

Colonel  through  the  head.     He  fell  across  the  table,  dead  m  an 

instant  and  breaking  all  the  glass  ! 

Dorothy. 

How  horrible  !     I  think  Sir  George  Sylvester  is  quite  right  not 
to  fight.  [Goes  up  to  window  again. 

Mrs.  Fenton. 

Is  Ursula  in  sight,  Dorothy  ? 

Dorothy. 

No,  I  see  nothing  of  her. 

Mrs.  Fenton. 
Then  we  mustn't  detam  you,  Mr.  Blimboe.     But  stay  —  we 
shall  be  at  home  this  evening.     Pray  come  and  drink  tea  with  us, 
and  make  yourself  known  to  Ursula. 

Blimboe. 

With  the  utmost  pleasure.     I  won't  fail  you.     Ladies,  your 
servant.  \He  bows  —  they  curtsey.     He  goes  off  L. 

Dorothy. 
[Coming  down.l^     I  wish  he'd  bring  Sir  George  with  him. 

Mrs.  Fenton. 
My  dear,  if  Sir  George  does  not  wish  to  know  the  ladies  of  the 
neighbourhood,  nothing  can  be  more  undignified  in  them  than  to 
seek  or  even  to  desire  acquaintance  with  him.  [Sits  again. 

DOKOTHY. 
But  he's  such  an  interesting  man,  Ursula  says. 


The    LADY    URSULA         5 

Mrs.  Fenton. 
Interesting  indeed  !     He  certainly  was  a  noted  duellist  and  Pm 
afraid,  a  sad  rake,  too. 

Dorothy. 

Do  you  think  all  that  makes  him  less  interesting.  Aunt  ?     If  I 
weren't  going  to  marry  Frank 

Mrs.  Fenton. 
Pray  don't  let  Lord  Hassenden  hear  you  say  such  things. 

Dorothy. 
Of  course  not,  but  I  may  say  them  when  he  doesn't  hear  me, 
I  suppose.     Anyhow,  Ursula  finds  Sir  George  interesting.      \To 
window  again. '\     She  must  be  back  soon,  unless  —  Oh,   what 
fun  !     But  I  should  lose  my  wager. 

Mrs.  Fenton. 
What  are  you  talking  about  my  dear  ?  [Dorothy  comes  down, 
laughs  J  whispers  in  her  ear.'\  What  ?  What  do  you  say,  Dor- 
othy ?  Heavens  above  us  !  Gone  to  Sir  George  Sylvester's  ! 
Ursula  gone  to  —  !  [Dorothy  laughs  and  nods.'\  Well,  what 
young  women  are  coming  to,  I  don't  know. 

Dorothy. 
Oh,  people  always  say  that.     I  suppose  they  always  will,  and 
\sighing\   we  nevw  do  anything  very  shocking  after  all.     Any- 
how, it's  Ursula,  not  me.     I  wonder  if  the  trick  can  have  suc- 
ceeded ? 

Mrs.  Fenton. 
Pray  let  me  hear  no  more  about  it. 

Dorothy. 

Very  well.      \She  sits  L,   C,  and  yawns.  ]     Where's  Frank, 
too  ?     Oh,  how  dull  it  is  ! 


6        The    ADVENTURE    of 
Mrs.  Fenton. 

What  is  this  disgraceful  trick,  Dorothy  ? 

Dorothy. 
Well,  you  told  me  not  to  talk  about  it,  but  it's  —  it's  so  amus- 
ing.    [  Rises  and  crosses  to  Mrs.  F.  ]     Oh,  but  you'll  betray  it  to 

Frank! 

Mrs.  Fenton. 

I  won't,  indeed  I  won't. 

Dorothy. 

[  Laughing.  ]  I  believe  you  like  a  joke  after  all.  Aunt.  Well, 
Ursula  has  wagered  me  that  she'll  gain  admission  to  Sir  George's 
house. 

Mrs.  Fenton. 
WeU! 

Dorothy. 

Just  to  make  him  break  his  oath,  you  know.     She's  gone  out 

walking  with  Quilton  —  he's  devoted  to  her  and  will  do  anything 

she  tells  him  —  and  when  she  comes  to  Sir  George's  gates,  she'll 

turn  faint,  and  Quilton  will  help  her  up  the  avenue,  and  ring  the 

bell,  and  Ursula  will  sink  down  on  the  doorstep  and  then 

Mrs.  Fenton. 
\Severel^,'\     Well,  and  then  ? 

Dorothy. 
Oh,  then  I've  wagered  he  won't  ask  her  to  walk  in,  and  she's 
wagered  he  will.     Oh,  which  do  you  think  he'll  do.  Aunt  ?     The 
wager  is  six  pairs  of  the  finest  silk  stockings;  and  I  have  no  money, 
and  I  can't  ask  Frank  for  them,  can  I?     Not  yet,  I  mean. 

Mrs.  Fenton. 
And  if  Ursula  does  force  her  way  in  in  this  fashion  ? 


The    LADY    URSULA        7 

Dorothy. 

Oh,  if  she  does  make  her  way  in, — well,  I  shouldn't  wonder  if 

she  went  again. 

Mrs.  Fenton. 

If  I  had  known  that  such  escapades  were  to  go  on,  I'd  never 
have  brought  you  here.  I  hope,  Dorothy,  that  when  you're 
married  [Dorothy  ^o«  up  to  the  windotff^  you  wUl  exert  an  in- 
fluence for  good  on  your  sister-in-law. 

Dorothy. 

[Absently — looking  out  of  the  window. '\     Yes,  I  will.  Aunt. 

Mrs.  Fenton. 
You  have  been  genteelly  and  religiously  brought  up. 

Dorothy. 

[Js  before.'^  Yes,  I  have.  Aunt.  [Mrs.  F.  rises. '\  Oh,  I 
wonder  what's  happened  ?     Do  you  think  he'll  let  her  in  ? 

Mrs.  Fenton. 

My  dear,  I  don't  take  the  least  interest  in  the  subject.  [  Going  L.  ] 
But  if  I  had  done  such  a  thing  when  I  was  a  girl 

Dorothy. 

[  Laughing,  ]     Sir  George  wouldn't  have  let  you  in.  Aunt  ? 

Mrs.  Fenton. 

I  said  nothing  of  the  kind,  Dorothy.     Why  are  you  laughing, 

pray  ? 

Dorothy. 

At  the  idea.  Aunt.  [Mrs.  F.  looks  severely  at  her  and  goes  off 
Z.]  Never  mind,  I  don't  thmk  she'll  tell  Frank.  [^Runs  to 
window.^  Oh,  there's  Ursula!  \^Glances  at  clock.  ^  She  can't 
have  got  in — it's  too  early.  Then  I've  won  the  wager.  Now 
what  colour  shall  I  have  my  stockings  ? 


8        r^f    ADVENTURE    (?/       ^ 

\^Enter  Ursula  L.  She  seems  out  of  breath  and  agitated. 
Crosses  and  throws  herself  into  chair  R.  by  fire  and  sits 
silent.     Dorothy  comes  down  C.  ] 

Dorothy. 
You've  lost,  you've  lost,  Ursula  !     Now,  this  time,  positively 
you  must  pay  the  stakes,  I  wagered  you  six  pairs  of  the  finest 

Lady   Ursula. 

Oh,  do  be  quiet.  I'm  not  thinking  of  stockings.  I'd  give  sixty 
pairs  to  be  out  of  this  business.  [  Jumping  up  and  coming  to  Dor- 
othy.]    A  terrible  thing  has  happened,  Dorothy. 

Dorothy. 

A  terrible  thing  ?     Why,  what  ? 

Lady    Ursula. 
[  Impressively.  ]     If  Frank  is  dead  by  this  time  to-morrow,  it 
vrill  be  my  fault. 

Dorothy. 

Frank  dead — dead  by  this  time  to-morrow  !     Oh,  what  do  you 

mean  ? 

Lady    Ursula. 

I'll  tell  you  all  about  it  —  \^Pathetically. ]  Oh,  try,  try  not  to 
hate  me,  darling. 

Dorothy. 

Tell  me  what  you  mean  about  Frank. 

Lady    Ursula. 

I  am  telling  you  —  only  you  intemapt  me.  I  went  there  —  to 
that  odious  man's,  you  know  —  as  —  as  we  arranged;  and 

Dorothy. 

We  didn't  arrange,  it  was  all  your  idea. 


The    LADY    URSULA        9 

Lady    Ursula. 
Well,  you  incited  me. 

Dorothy. 

No,  I  dissuaded  you. 

Lady    Ursula. 
You  wagered 

Dorothy. 

That  was  to  dissuade  you.     Oh,  but  do  go  on  ! 

Lady    Ursula. 
Oh,  you'll  be  against  me,  of  course  !    I  don't  care.     I  couldn't 
foresee  what  would  happen.     It  was  just  the  unluckiest 

Dorothy. 

Are  you  never  going  on  ? 

Lady    Ursula. 
The  very  moment  you'll  be  quiet  and  let  me  ! 

Dorothy. 
Quiet  !     How  can  I  be  quiet  when  Frank's  in  peril  of 

Lady    Ursula. 
Very  well.  \^  J  pause.     Tbey  look  defiantly  at  one  another. 

Dorothy. 

Oh,  go  on,  then. 

Lady  Ursula. 
I  went  there  and  —  and  I  fainted.  I'd  planned  everything  with 
Quilton  most  perfectly.  He  helped  me  up  the  avenue  and  left  me 
—  drooping  —  on  a  seat.  Then  he  went  to  the  door  and  gave 
my  compliments,  said  I  was  ill,  and  begged  leave  to  rest  myself 
for  a  little  while  before  I  resumed  my  walk.     The  servant  shut 


lo     The    ADVENTURE    of 

the  door,  we  waited,  he  came  back  with  the  answer  —  Sir  George 

Sylvester  presents  his   compliments  to   Lady    Ursula   Harrington 

and 

Dorothy. 

Would  she  honour  him  by  stepping  in  ? 

Lady   Ursula. 
No  !     Would  she  take  a  glass  of  wine  ! 

Dorothy. 

Well,  weU,  Ursula  ? 

Lady    Ursula. 
I  sent  again.     My  compliments,  I  was  obliged  to  Sir  George, 
but  I  needed  nothing  except  a  few  moments'  rest  on  a  sofa.     Al- 
though in  truth  I  was  by  then  ashamed  to  go  in,  for  my  cheeks 
were  as  red  as  Frank's  uniform  coat. 

Dorothy. 

And  what  answer  did  he  send  to  that  ? 

Lady    Ursula. 

Sir  George's  compliments.     He  regretted  that  his  establishment 

did  not  admit  of  his  receiving  ladies,  but  he  begged  me  to  consider 

the  porter's  lodge  at  my  disposal  and  to  rest  there  so  long  as  I 

might  be  inclined. 

Dorothy. 
The  porter's  lodge  ! 

Lady    Ursula. 
The  porter's  lodge. 

Dorothy. 

What  barbarity  !     But  you've  lost  the  wager,  Ursula. 

Lady    Ursula. 
Oh,  that  for  the  wager !     How  am  I  to  tell  you,  Dorothy  ? 
Now  comes  the  dreadful  thing. 


The    LADY    URSULA       ii 

Dorothy. 

About  Frank  ? 

Lady    Ursula. 
Yes,  about  Frank.     Just  at  that  moment,  as  the  devil  would 

have  it \_A  movement  from  Dorothy.]     Oh,  I  know,  my 

dear,  but  it  was  the  devil,  if  ever  anything  was  — just  at  that 
moment  who  should  come  riding  by  but  Frank  !  He  saw  me  on 
the  seat  in  the  avenue  and  Quilton  still  by  the  door.  *•  What's 
this  ? "  he  calls  —  off  his  horse  in  a  moment !  And  that  ally  old 
Quilton  —  I  suppose  he  thought  he  was  helping  me  —  told  him 
that  I  was  ill  and  had  asked  leave  to  rest,  but  that  Sir  George  had 
told  me  to  go  to  —  to  the  porter's  lodge.  You  know  Frank's 
temper  —  at  least  you  will  soon 

Dorothy. 

Frank's  the  sweetest- tempered 

Lady    Ursula. 

Oh,  sweet  as  gunpowder,  my  dear,  and  twice  as  quick.  When 
he  heard  those  words  —  porter's  lodge —  a  Barrington  sent  to  the 
porter's  lodge  —  he  blazed  out  in  an  instant  —  ordered  me  off 
home  (on  my  soul,  I  forgot  to  go  on  being  faint !) — and  sent 
Quilton  with  a  message  that  Sir  George  was  no  gentleman,  that 
Sir  George  had  insulted  his  sister,  that  an  insult  to  his  sister  was 
an  insult  to  him,  that  Sir  George  used  to  know,  even  if  he  had 
ceased  to  practise,  the  rules  of  conduct  common  among  gentlemen 

—  and  that Oh,  there  was  plenty  more,  but  the  sum  of  it  all 

was  that  Sir  George  should  hear  &om  him. 

Dorothy. 
Hear  from  him  ! 

Lady    Ursula. 
That  he'd  send  his  seconds  to  him,  you  know.     I  left  Frank 


12      The    ADVENTURE    of 

waiting   for   the   answer.     But   of  course   Sir  George  must   go 
out. 

Dorothy. 
Go  out !     Fight !     You  mean  —  fight  ? 

Lady   Ursula. 
Yes.     He  doesn't  want  to  fight,  you  know,  because  of  his  last 
affair,  but  he  must  after  Frank's  words. 

Dorothy. 

Oh,  how  terrible  !     [  Clutching  her  arm.  ]     Ursula,  they  won't 
fight  as  Joicey  and  McArthur  fought  ? 

Lady    Ursula. 

How  was  that  ?     Oh,  you  mean  the  Dublin  duel  ? 

Dorothy. 

Yes  —  across  the  dinner  table  —  with  only  one  pistol  loaded, 
each  drawing  one  at  random. 

Lady    Ursula. 
No,  they  won't  fight  like  that.  \_Shakes  her  head, 

Dorothy. 
Thank  Heaven  for  so  much,  at  least ! 

Lady   Ursula. 
It'll  be  worse  than  that  —  for  Frank,  I  mean. 

Shaking  her  head, 

Dorothy. 
Worse ! 

Lady   Ursula. 

Yes.     That  would  be  an  even  chance.     As  it  is,  Sir  George'U 

have  the  choice  of  weapons — and  everybody  says  he's  the  finest 

swordsman  in  London. 


The    LADY    URSULA       13 

Dorothy. 

Oh,  you  wicked,  wicked  girl  !     It's  all  your  fault  because  you 

were  so  —  so  undignified  and  —  and  forward  and  unladylike.     Oh, 

what  shall  I  do  ?    Frank' U  be  killed.     \^Sinks  into  chair  by  windoto 

and  sobs.     Ursula  sits  and  looks  rigidly  in  front  of  her.     A  pause.  ] 

\_  Enter  Quilton  L.  hreathless  and  in  haste.     He  stands 

looking  at  them.  ] 

Lady    Ursula. 
So,   you  may  suppose,   I'm   not   thinking  much   about   your 
stockings. 

Q_U  I  L  T  O  N. 

Beg  pardon,  my  lady.  Sir  George  sends  word  that  my  lord 
may  send  his  friends  as  soon  as  my  lord  pleases,  and  Sir  George 
will  be  pleased  to  name  his. 

Dorothy. 
Oh! 

Lady    Ursula. 

Where  is  my  brother,  Quilton  ? 

QjJ  I  L  T  O  N. 

On  his  way  here,  my  lady,  he  is  anxious  to  sec  and  console 
your  ladyship. 

Lady    Ursula. 
Console  me  ! 

Dorothy. 

Console  her ! 

Qu  I  L  T  O  N. 

He'll  be  here  directly.  Beg  your  ladyship's  pardon — shall  I 
say  that  your  ladyship  is  better  ? 

Lady    Ursula. 

No,    Quilton,   worse,    worse.     [Quilton  goes  off.     Ursula 


14     Ty^^    ADVENTURE    0/ 

looks  at  Dorothy,  rises  and  sighs.  ]  I  must  tell  Frank  the  truth, 
that's  all.  [  Pause.  ~\  And  he  must  tell  Sir  George  and  apologize 
for  what  he  said  under  a  misapprehension.  Perhaps  that  will 
prevent  the  meeting. 

Dorothy. 
What  will  Sir  George  think  of  you  ? 

Lady    Ursula. 

I  suppose  he'll  think  me  the  most  ill-bred  and  impudent  girl  he 

ever  heard  of. 

Dorothy. 

Yes,  that's  exactly  what  he'll  think. 

Lady    Ursula. 

I  don't  care.     I'd  do  anything  sooner  than  let  them  fight.     \_A 

pause.  ]     You  might  pity  me  a  litde,  Dorothy,  I'm  very  unhappy. 

[Sits  R. 
Dorothy. 

Kty  you  !     I'll  keep  my  pity  for  my  poor  dear  Frank  ! 

Lady    Ursula. 
How  perversely  things  happen  !     It  was  no  more  than  a  litde 

jest  of  mine,  and 

[Enter  Hassenden  L.     Dorothy  runs  over  to  him  and 
throws  her  arms  round  his  necL'j 

Dorothy. 
Oh,  darling  Frank,  must  you  fight  this  awful  man  ? 

Hassenden. 
[  Tender/y."]     Yes,  dear,  I  must  go  out  with  him.     Don't  fear 
for  me.     I  can  take  care  of  myself.      [Leaves  her  and  comes  to 
Ursula.     Lays  hand  on  her  chair  and  bends  over  her.'\     My  poor 
insulted  sister ! 


r-6^    L  A  D  Y    U  R  S  U  LA       15 

Lady    Ursula. 
Don't  kiss  me  ! 

Dorothy. 
Poor  insulted  sister,  indeed  !  [^Cemfs  down  L. 

Hassenden. 
[  Looking  from  one  to  the  other.  ]     Why  —  what  do  you  mean  ? 

Dorothy. 

Oh,  I'll  leave  Ursula  to  tell  you  herself.  _ 

Hassenden. 
To  tell  me  what  ? 

Dorothy. 

What  she  has  done. 

Hassenden. 
If  there's  anything  to  tell,  pray  tell  me  quickly.     I'm  on  guard 
to-night  and  must  leave  for  town  immediately.     I  need  not  add 
that  I  have  fresh  business  on  hand  now. 

Lady    Ursula. 
\_Rising.'\     Frank,    there   must   be   no   meeting   between    Sir 
George  Sylvester  and  you  over  this  matter. 

Hassenden. 

But,  by  Heaven,  there  must  !     The  challenge  is  given  and  ac- 
cepted.    Neither  can  draw  back. 

Lady  Ursula. 
There  must  be  no  meeting  on  account  of  the  way  in  which  Sir 
George  used  me.  What  he  did  was  less  than  my  deserts.  I 
was  playing  a  trick  on  him.  \_Hassenden  starts  and  is  about  to 
speak.  ]  Oh,  you  need  say  nothing  !  You  needn't  tell  me  what 
you  think  of  me.     I  wanted  to  have  a  laugh  against  him.     He 


i6      T  Jhe    ADV  ENTV  KE    of 

refuses  to  admit  a  woman  to  his  house.  I  tried  to  procure  entrance 
by  pretending  a  fit  of  faintness.  Well,  I  failed,  I  did  not  get  in  ; 
he  sent  me  to  the  porter's  lodge. 

Hassenden. 
Is  this  true,  Ursula  ? 

Lady    Ursula. 
Yes,  it  is  all  true.     I  tried  and  I  failed.     There  the  matter 
would  have  ended,  if  you  hadn't  chanced  to  come  by. 

Hassenden. 
As  I  did  chance  to  come  by,  there  it  does  not  end.     It  ends 
and  must  end  —  elsewhere. 

Dorothy. 
But,  Frank,  you  can  tell  him 

Lady    Ursula. 
You  can  explain  that  your  words 

Hassenden. 
Sir  George  Sylvester  is  too  fine  a  swordsman  for  his  opponent 
to  be  very  ready  with  apologies. 

Dorothy. 

Oh,  that's  just  a  man's  senseless  reason  ! 

Hassenden. 
Ah,  Dorothy,  and  what  is  to  be  my  apology  ?  What's  my 
excuse?  \^Holds  Dorothy's  hand  and  turns  to  Ursula.]  That 
I  have  a  sister  —  Lady  Ursula  Barrington  —  whose  habit  it  is  to 
force  her  acquaintance  on  gentlemen  who  do  not  desire  it  and  her 
way  into  their  houses  when  they  do  not  invite  her.  [Ursula 
stands  quite  still.  A  pause.  ]  Shall  I  be  welcome  among  my 
brother-officers  with  these  excuses  on  my  lips  ? 


The    LADY    URSULA       17 

Dorothy. 

But  they'll  understand 


Hassenden. 

Believe  me,  if  I  sheltered  myself  behind  such  a  plea,  it  is  not 
one  but  twenty  quarrels  that  I  should  have  on  my  hands. 

Dorothy. 

Oh,  and  it  was  my  fault,  too,  because  I 

Lady   Ursula. 
Stop  !     It  was  my  feult  and  mine  only.     The  trick   was  en- 
tirely of  my  devising. 

Hassenden. 

A  pretty  trick,  indeed.  A  very  pretty  trick.  It  might  have 
cost  yoxir  reputation,  it  is  likely  to  cost  only  my  life.  [  Turns  to 
Dorothy.  ]  Good-bye,  dearest.  Hush,  not  a  word  !  I  must 
go.  I  will  see  you  again  before  —  before  anything  further  hap- 
pens. Good-bye.  [  Kissing  her.  Goes  up  Z.  Pauses,  turns  and 
looks  at  Ursula.]  You  have  one  more  brother.  Pray  indulge 
yourself  in  one  more  such  trick.  Good-day  to  you.  \^Bows  and 
goes  off  L.  Dorothy  sits  L.  and  cries.  Ursula  still  stands 
mitbottt  movement.     A  pause.  ] 

Lady   Ursula. 

What's  the  use  of  crying  ?  Tears  are  no  armour  for  Frank, 
tears  won't  turn  Sir  George's  sword.  We  can  do  nothing  —  so 
let  us  laugh.  Let  us  laugh,  Dolly.  Isn't  it  ludicrous  in  truth? 
A  mad  girl  plays  a  mad  trick  and  a  brave  gentleman,  her  dear 
brother,  dies  for  it.  Isn't  it  laughable  ?  [  Walks  to  window, 
looks  out  for  a  moment. "^  It's  growing  dusk.  \Goes  L.  and  stands 
before  the  mirror.     Dorothy  lifts  her  bead  and  looks  at  Ursula. 


i8      The    ADVENTURE    of 

Apause.'\     Well,  if  Frank  won't  tell  the  truth,  I  will  tell  it  to 
Sir  George  myself. 

Dorothy. 
\^Leaning forward.']     Ursula  !     You'll  write  to  him  ? 

Lady    Ursula. 
[  Looking  in  mirror.  ]     No,  he  would  not  mind  a  letter.     [  Tak- 
ing a  step  back,  smiling  a  little  and  striking  an  attitude.  ]     No,  I 
shall  fare  better  —  face  to  face.     I'll  go  to  him. 

Dorothy. 

Go  to  him  ?     Oh,  and  plead  with  him  ? 

Lady   Ursula. 

Yes  —  [  She  arranges  her  hair  and  dances  a  step  or  two  before 
the  mirror']  and  plead  with  him. 

Dorothy. 
\_Rising  and  leaning  her  elbow  on  the  sill  of  the  window.]  But 
—  but  how  are  you  going  to  get  at  him  ?  [  Ursula  wheels  around 
suddenly.]  You  can't  waylay  him  in  the  street,  you  can't  go 
faint  again  —  and  if  you  did  he  would  —  he  would  only  send  his 
compliments  and  make  you  welcome  to  —  the  porter's  lodge  ! 

Lady    Ursula. 

I'll  effect  an  entrance  if  —  if  I  have  to  kiss  the  footman  ! 
[Turns  an  instant  to  mirror  and  looks.  Then  smiling  turns  again 
and  goes  up  to  Dorothy.]  Take  heart,  Dolly,  dear  Dolly. 
Your  beau  shan't  be  killed  nor  my  cruel  brother  either.  [  Comes 
down.  ]  Oh,  if  only  Walter  were  here  and  not  in  France  !  He 
could  help  me. 

Dorothy. 

[Following  her  down.]  Walter  !  What  could  he  do  ?  Ex- 
cept be  second  to  Frank  in  the  duel  ? 


The    LADY    URSULA       19 

Lady    Ursula. 
Why,  he  could  go  to  Sir  George  and  tell  him  what  Frank  won't 
tell  him.     Oh,  to  be  a  man  for  an  hour  !     [^  Pause.  ^     Walter 
could  get  in.     I  can't.     Unless  —  [^G/ances  at  window.     It  is 
growing  dusk'\  —  unless  in  the  dark  I  were  mistaken  for  a  man. 

Dorothy. 

What's  the  use  of  talking  in  that  fashion  ?  Mistake  you  for  a 
man  !  [^Sits  R. 

Lady    Ursula. 

[^Going  up  to  window. 1^  It's  growing  dark.  [She  turns  and 
looks  at  Dorothy.]  I'm  a  good  height,  I  can  bear  myself  up- 
right. I'm  like  Walter.  Walter's  chin  is  still  smooth  enough. 
[Comes  down  quickly  to  Dorothy.]  I'm  going  to  help  Frank  — 
will  you  help  him  —  help  him  by  helping  me  ?  Oh,  I  know 
what  may  be  said  if  I'm  found  out.  What  do  I  care,  if  I  can 
prevent  this  duel  ?     Dolly,  will  you  help  me  ? 

Dorothy. 
How,  in  what  ?     Only  tell  me  ! 

Lady   Ursula. 
By  keeping  my  secret  and  by  being  on  the  lookout  to  let  me  in 
when  I  come  back. 

Dorothy. 
Let   you   in?      Are   you   gomg   out?      [Rising.~\      To   Sir 
George's  again,  Ursula  ? 

Lady   Ursula. 
Yes,  to  Sir  George's  again  !     Will  you  do  what  I  ask  of  you  — 
will  you,  Dolly  ?  [  Catches  her  hands. 

Dorothy. 
[  Drawing  back.  ]     I'll  do  anything  to  help  Frank. 


20     r-6^    ADVENTURE    0/ 

Lady    Ursula. 

[Reproachfully.  ]     And  nothing  to  help  me  now  ?     [  Smiling.  ] 

But  I'll  A^rin  your  love  again  —  and  to  punish  you  I'll  win  the 

stockings  after  all.     No,  you  shall  kiss  me.     [/Tmw  Dorothy. 

Dorothy  is  reluctant,  but  at  last  kisses  her,   laughing  a  little. 

Ursula  runs  L.  calling.  ]     Quilton,  Quilton !     [  She  stands  before 

mirror,  assumes  jaunty  attitude  and  draws  her  skirt  above  and  away 

from  her  feet.     Drops  skirt  hastily,  turns  away,  and  comes  down 

C.  as  Quilton  enters  carrying  a  large  flat  box.     He  sets  it  down 

by  window  as  Ursula  speaks  to  him."]     Has  my  lord  gone  to  town 

yet? 

Qu  I  L  T  O  N. 

He  has  just  set  out,  my  lady.     He  hopes  to  be  back  in  the 
early  morning. 

Lady    Ursula. 
[Going  to  him.l^     Dear  old  Quilton,  I'm  in  a  great  trouble. 

Qu  I  L  T  O  N. 

There's  nothing  new  in  that. 

Lady   Ursula. 
And  it's  by  my  own  fault. 

QjU  I  L  T  O  N. 

Nor  in  that,  neither.     But  you'll  coax  your  way  out  of  it  — 
»nd  there'll  be  nothing  new  in  that,  neither. 

Lady    Ursula. 
Shall  I,  Quilton  ?     Not  unless  you  help  me. 

Qu  I  L  T  O  N. 

Ah,  and  there'll  oe  nothing  new  in  that,  neither.     I  remember 
well  enough  when  you  were  a  naughty  little  girl 


The    LADY    URSULA       21 

Lady    Ursula. 
For  heaven's  sake,  don't  remember  that.     Indeed,  you  remem- 
ber it  too  often.     Tell  me,  what  suits  of  Mr.  Waher's  have  you 
here  ?     [  Dorothy  looks  up  startled  and  listens.  ]     Most  of  his  I 
know  he  took  with  him  to  France. 

Q_U  I  L  T  O  N. 

Why,  my  lady,  for  what  reason  do  you  desire  to  know  ? 

Lady    Ursula. 
Oh,  never  mind  why.     Tell  me,  tell  me.     Dolly,  come  here 
and  listen. 

Dorothy. 

\^Rising  and  coming  to  center y  R.  of  Quilton  who  is  between 
tbem.  ]     But  why  in  the  world  are  you ? 

Lady    Ursula. 
If  either  of  you  love   me,   no   more   questions.     The  suits, 
Quilton  !     Dear  Quilton,  the  suits  ! 

Qu  I  L  T  O  N. 

Well,  God  knows  the  ways  of  your  mind,  my  lady  !     Well, 
then,  there's  the  black  slashed  with  red. 

Lady   Ursula. 
Oh,  I'm  not  going  to  play  the  devil  in  Dr.  Faustus. 

QjJ  I  L  T  O  N. 

There's  the  white  and  gold. 

Lady   Ursula. 

Alas,  I'm  not  going  to  a  wedding. 

Q_U  I  L  T  O  N. 
There's  the  buff  and  violet. 


22      TJbe    ADY  EN  rU  RE    of 

Lady    Ursula. 

I  should  be  like  a  Whig  in  mourning. 

QjJ  I  L  T  O  N. 

There's  the  sage-green. 

Lady    Ursula. 
I  am  not  wise  —  and  I  have  no  man  yet  to  be  jealous  of. 

Dorothy. 
But,  Ursula  — 

Lady   Ursula. 

Hush,  you'll  understand  directly  —  and  I  have  your  promise  of 

secrecy. 

QjJ  I  L  T  O  N. 
There's  the  pink. 

Lady   Ursula. 
Oh,  it  kills  my  face.     Are  there  no  more  ? 

Qu  I  L  T  O  N. 

No  more,  my  lady. 

Lady    Ursula. 

That  ever  my  plan  should  be  baulked  like  this  !     For  I'd  better 
not  go  at  all  than  go  in  a  colour  that  doesn't  become  me. 

Dorothy. 

\_Clasping  her  hands.  ]     Oh,  I  xmderstand  !     Ursula,  how  shall 
you ?  [  Falls  back  a  little. 

Lady   Ursula. 

Is  there  absolutely  no  other,  Quilton  ? 

Q_U  I  L  T  O  N. 
None,  my  lady,  except 

Dorothy. 
\Loohs  round  at  box.  ]     What's  this  f     \_Runs  to  ity  picks  it  up 


r/6(?    LADY    URSULA      23 

and  comes  C.  Reads  address  on  //.]  To  the  Honourable  Walter 
Barrington  at  Edgware.  \Looks  at  Ursula  and  reads  again.  ^ 
The  suit  as  commanded  in  pale  blue  with  silver. 

QjJ  I  L  T  O  N. 
It's  Mr.  Walter's  new  suit,  my  lady  —  ordered  for  the  ball  at 
the  Ambassador's  in  Paris.     I  brought  the  box  here  that  your  lady- 
ship might  write  the  French  address  on  it  for  me. 

Lady   Ursula. 
Pale  blue  and  silver  !     Oh,  Dolly,  the  colours  become  me  to  a 
marvel  —  what  a  blessed  chance  ! 

Q  U  I  L  T  O  N. 
It  must  go  to  Paris  at  once,  my  lady. 

Lady   Ursula. 
It  must  go  first  to  Sir  George  Sylvester's  ! 

Q  U  I  L  T  O  N. 

To  Sir  George  Sylvester's  !     And  who's  to  go  in  it  then  ? 

Lady    Ursula. 

Why,  I  am,  Quilton.     [Quilton  cbuck/es.']    Oh,  laugh  away, 

but  I'll  do  it.     Give  me  the  box,  Dolly.     \_Taies  ;/.]     And, 

Quilton,  you  must  dress  my  hair.     [  Sbe  gees  to  table  and  unfastens 

lox.^ 

Quilton. 

God  save  us,  and  what'U  my  lord  say  ? 

Dorothy. 
My  lord  mustn't  know. 

Quilton. 

And  what' 11  Mr.  Walter  say  ? 

Lady    Ursula. 
Dolly,  Dolly,  see,  here's  the  coat  —  a  beautiful  coat !    f  Doro- 


24      r^f    ADVENTURE    o/ 

THY  runs  to  her.     Ursula  bands  coat  to  Dorothy.     Quilton 
stands  a  moment^  laughing  again,     Ursula  takes  out  waistcoat.  ] 

Quilton. 
[Going  L.~\     She's  going  to  wear  the  breeches !     [Goes  off  L. 
laughing  and  shaking  his  head.  ] 

Lady   Ursula. 
[  Coming  L.  centre.  ]     And  what  a  waistcoat  ! 

Dorothy. 

Yes  —  and [  She  takes  out  the  breeches^  unfolds  them  ana 

holds  them  up.  ]     Look  at  the ! 


Lady   Ursula. 

Oh,  the !     [Runs  across  to  Tyov-OTHY.     Both  examine  the 

breeches,  laughing.  Ursula  holds  them  in  front  of  her  gown. 
Dorothy  laughs  and  claps  her  hands.  While  they  are  thus  en- 
gaged Mrs.  Fenton  enters  L.  and  stands  a  moment  looking.  ] 

Mrs.  Fenton. 
What  are  you  doing  ?    What  have  you  there  ?    [  Comes  down  L.  J 

Lady    Ursula. 
[Nudging  Dorothy.  3     Only  —  only  Walter's  new  clothes, 

Mrs.  Fenton. 

Dorothy. 

Yes,  only  —  only  Walter's  new  clothes.  Aunt. 

Lady   Ursula. 

They've  just  come  home,  they're  for  the  Ambassador's  ball  at 

Paris. 

Dorothy. 

They  have  to  go  to  Paris  at  once.     Aren't  they  pretty  ? 


r-6^    LADY    URSULA       25 

Lady    Ursula. 

We  were  just  looking  at  them  —  and  —  and  seeing  whether  they 
—  I  mean  hoping  they  would  fit,  you  know. 

Mrs.  Fenton. 
Hum!    A  nice  employment  for  young  women.     Pray,  do  ladies 
usually  scrutinize  gentlemen's  clothes,  to  see  whether  they  fit  ? 

Lady   Ursula. 
Only  —  only  when  the  gentleman's  inside  them,  as  a  rule,  I 

suppose. 

M  R  S.    F  E  N  T  O  N. 

It  was  not  the  custom  in  my  girlhood. 

Dorothy. 

No,  I  suppose  not.  Aunt. 

Mrs.  Fenton. 

Come,  dears,  fold  them  neatly  and  put  them  away.  As  for 
you,  Ursula,  I  have  heard  of  your  proceedings.  You  should  be 
ashamed  of  yourself. 

Lady    Ursula. 

Indeed  I  am.  Fold  up  the  coat,  Dorothy.  Oh,  yes,  I  am, 
Mrs.  Fenton.     [  Takes  breeches.  ]     I'll  fold  these. 

Mrs.  Fenton. 

And  now  you're  looking  at  a  gentleman's  clothes  !  Well,  I 
suppose  you'll  be  trying  them  on  next.  [  Ursula  and  Dorothy 
look  at  one  another  and  laugh.  ] 

Lady   Ursula. 

Trying  them  on  !  Oh,  fie,  Mrs.  Fenton !  Do  be  quick  and 
put  them  back  in  the  box,  Dorothy.  [  Mrs.  F.  goes  up  to  the 
window  and  looks  out.  Ursula  again  makes  as  though  to  measure 
the  breeches.     Mrs.   F.   turns  round  and  Ursula  begins  to  fold 


26      TJhe    ADVENTU  KE    of 

them  hastily.'^     Oh,  Dorothy,  don*t  crease  the  coat,  or  I  shall  — 

I  —  I  mean  —  or  Walter  will  look [  She  still  holds  the 

breeches.  ] 

Mrs.  Fenton. 

Come  with  me,  Dorothy.     I  want  you  to  write  a  letter  for  me. 

\Goes  jL, 
Dorothy. 

I'll  come  in  an  instant.  Aunt. 

Mrs.  Fenton. 

And  do  endeavor  to  conduct  yourselves  with  more  gentility. 

[^GoesoffL, 
Lady   Ursula. 

r  Crossing  L.  ]     Oh,  I'll  conduct  myself  with  infinite  gentility. 

Dolly,  I  will  be  the  finest  gallant  in  the  town  !     You  shan't  see 

me  for  fear  you  forsake  poor  Frank  and  fall  in  love  with  me  all  in 

a  moment. 

Dorothy. 

You'll  wear  them  ?     You'll  go  in  them  to  Sir  George  ? 

Lady    Ursula. 
I  will. 

Dorothy. 

And,  Ursula,  can  you  —  ah,  can  you  prevent  a  duel } 

Lady   Ursula. 

A  duel  !     [  Coming  to  her.  ]     No,  Dolly,  I  can't  prevent  a 

dnd* 

Dorothy. 

Then  what's  the  use  of ? 

Lady   Ursula. 
There  must  be  a  duel. 

Dorothy. 

And  Frank  will  be  killed ! 


r^^    LADY    URSULA       27 

Lady   Ursula. 

No,  Frank  will  not  be  killed. 

Dorothy. 
But  how,  how  ? 

Lady    Ursula. 

\_Puftwg  one  arm  round  Dorothy*s  zvaist  and  holding  up  the 
breeches  in  the  other  hand.  ]  There  must  be  a  duel  —  but  —  I 
will  fight  it  with  Sir  George  ! 

CU  RTAI N 


A  CT    I  I 


Sir  George  Sylvester's  house  at  Edgware  —  eight 
p.  m.  The  dining-room  —  doors  up  L. ,  down  R. 
At  back  a  large  window  in  a  recess  with  curtains 
drawn  across.  Centre  L.,  a  small  polished  table 
with  decanters  and  glasses.  Sylvester,  Blim- 
boe  and  Castleton  are  at  table.  Blimboe 
smokes  a  long  clay.  Castleton  in  riding  dress, 
Sylvester  in  undress. 

Blimboe. 

O  fight  in  a  private  quarrel  is  a  sin,  to  break  an  oath 
is  a  sin,  and 

Castleton. 

On  my  soul  to   refuse  to   see   a   pretty  girl  — 
whether  in  or  out  of  a  faint,  I  care  not  —  is  a  heinous  sin. 

Sylvester. 
Then  I'm  damned  three  times  over.     For  I  would  not  see  her 
and  I  will  not.      Rght  I  will ;  and  to  fight  I  must  break  my  oath. 

Castleton. 
The  oath  had  no  sense,  George,  no  consistency,  no  harmony  of 
its  members.     For  to  keep  the  part  concerning  women  was  bound 
to  run  you  into  a  discourtesy 


30     Ti^^    ADVENTURE    0/ 

B  L  I  M  B  O  E. 
True,  Mr.  Casdeton  ;  very  well  put,  sir. 

Castleton. 
And  from  discourtesy  follows  fighting  as  pat  as  one  kiss  from 
another. 

B  L  I  M  B  O  £. 
Yet  the  Scriptures  tell  us 

Castleton. 
Ah,  we  live  in  other  times  —  and  a  man  cannot  be  at  odds  with 

his  times. 

B  L  I  M  B  O  E. 

The  case  is  difficult,  I  own. 

Sylvester. 
[Laagbifig.']  For  a  parson  who  loves  fighting,  it*s  mighty 
difficult.  [C/tf//  Blimboe  on  the  shoulder.']  This  fellow's  a 
glutton  for  it  in  his  heart.  But  for  his  cloth  we  should  none  of  us 
be  safe.  {^Sighing.]  But  I  regret  this  afiair.  Hassenden's  a 
good  fellow,  though  he's  over  hot  in  the  head  —  and,  plague  take 
it,  when  I  see  my  man  opposite  me,  I'm  bound  to  use  my  knowl- 
edge. 

Blimboe. 

You  need  do  no  more  than  touch  him  —  the  wrist,  say,  or 
somewhere  safe  in  the  arm.  This  isn't  a  Joicey  and  McArthur 
business. 

Castleton. 
No  —  no  more  of  that  butchery,  in  heaven's  name. 

Sylvester. 
He  offered  me  most  direct  insults,  and  I  love  a  neat  thrust. 
Jack. 


7.6^    L  A  D  Y    U  RS  U  LA      31 

Castleton. 

That  you  did  always.  But  —  does  the  oath  hold  good  except 
for  Hassenden  ? 

Sylvester. 
For  you,  anyhow.     Say  what  you  will. 

Castleton. 

Then  give  me  leave  to  tell  you  you're  a  fool.  Ah,  make  as 
many  vows  to  women  as  you  like,  but  none  about  them. 

B  L  I  M  B  O  E. 

Now  pray,  sir,  why  so  ? 

Castleton. 

Because  the  keeping  of  the  first  depends  on  your  own  mind,  and 
the  keeping  of  the  second  depends  mainly  on  theirs.  [  To  Sylves- 
ter, j  Besides,  man,  I  hear  that  the  lady  whom  you  would  have 
sent  to  your  porter's  lodge  is  to  be  the  belle  of  London  —  the 
prettiest  creature,  they  say,  in  all  the  town.  She  passed  the  season 
in  York  and  broke  more  hearts  than  they  break  heads  at  a  West- 
minster election. 

B  L  I  M  B  O  E. 

The  more  reason  to  restrict  her  to  the  porter's  lodge. 

Castleton. 
I  grant  you  that  —  from  the  porter's  point  of  view. 

Sylvester, 
And  from  mine,  also. 

Castleton. 

Ugliness  may  produce  a  virtue  —  a  soldier  with  no  legs  can't 
run  away  —  but  hang  me,  George,  if  it  be  one  —  or  if  it  is,  the 
world  is  nine-tenths  virtuous  already  ! 


32      The    ADVENTURE    of 

B  L  I  M  B  O  E. 
There  b  no  virtue,  sir,  where  there  is  no  temptation. 

Castleton. 

And  where  there  is  temptation,  there  remains  very  little  virtue. 
If  a  man  desires  to  be  righteous  —  why,  the  world  is  badly  ordered 
for  him.     But  I  vdsh  you'd  seen  her,  George. 

B  L  I  M  B  O  E. 

You  won't  kill  the  young  lord.  Sir  George  ?  He's  to  be  mar- 
ried in  a  month  to  a  most  engaging  young  lady. 

Sylvester. 
Hum  !     I  come  in  the  nick  of  time  to  save  him.     Death  is  to 
marriage  as  the  coup  de  grace  to  slow  torture. 

Castleton. 
Ah,  but  they  say  fanatics  feel  no  pain. 

Sylvester. 
Then  I  amend  —  better  death  than  madness. 

B  L  I  M  B  O  E. 

The  Holy  Martyrs  were  not  mad. 

Sylvester. 
They  were  leaving  their  wives  behind  them  —  and  going  to  a 
place  where  in  most  cases  they  wouldn't  meet  them  again. 

B  L  I  M  B  O  E. 
Gentlemen,  gentlemen  !     Marriage  is  of  Divine  foundation. 

Sylvester. 

May  be.     But  when  a  building  is  complete,  the  foundations  are 

not  visible. 

Castleton. 

She's  tall,  they  say,  and  very  slender.     I  like  'em  like  willows. 


The    LADY    URSULA       33 

George.  Her  eye  is  blue,  her  cheek  not  so  red  but  that  you  have 
good  excuse  for  making  it  redder,  her  mouth  not  so  small  as  to 
stint  a  man  nor  yet  so  large  as  to  discourage  him  from  seeking  to 
cover  it,  her  ear 

Sylvester. 
In  Heaven's  name,  who's  the  text  for  this  rhapsody  ? 

Castleton. 

Oh,  it's  only  a  part  of  what  is  reported  of  the  lady  whom  you 
sent  to  your  porter's  lodge.  I  trust  you  asked  leave  of  the  porter's 
wife  ? 

Sylvester. 

The  porter,  thank  God,  is  a  bachelor. 

Castleton. 
George,  I  think  I'll  be  your  porter.      Give  this  fellow  his  conge 
and  take  me  in  his  place.     \^Rising.'\      Well,  fight  you  will  and 
kiss  you  won't  ?     So  it  stands,  does  it  ? 

Sylvester. 
Yes,  I  must  be  content  to  keep  half  my  oath.     At  least  it  is  the 
better  half. 

Castleton. 

Well,  since  I  can't  help  you  in  one,  I'd  help  you  in  the  other 
—  but  Hassenden's  of  my  company  and  my  friend. 

Sylvester. 
I  know.  Jack.     I'll  ask  Giles  Marsh  to  act  for  me. 

B  L  I  M  B  O  E. 

But  can  there  be  no  explanation,  no  apology  ? 

Sylvester. 
None ;  the  affair  has  gone  too  &*. 


34     r-6^    ADVENTURE    0/ 

Castleton. 

Swords,  I  suppose  ? 

Sylvester. 

Without  doubt.     I  was  the  challenged  party, 

Castleton. 
Well,   Heaven  bring  you  both  safe  out  of  it.     Good-night, 
George. 

Sylvester. 

[^Rising.']  Good-night.  I'll  find  you  at  your  lodgings  to- 
morrow. We  don't  meet  till  the  next  day,  because  Hassenden  is 
on  guard  to-night  and  his  eye  might  be  out. 

Castleton. 

Then  you've  foil  leisure  for  the  arrangements.  But  come  up 
to-night,  George.     What  is  there  to  keep  you  here  ? 

Sylvester. 
Nothing,  yet  I'll  stay.     I'm  not  dressed  —  and  I'm  not  in  the 
mood  for  company. 

Castleton. 

As  you  like.  But  if  you  change  your  mind,  there's  a  bed  at 
my  lodgings  and  I'll  leave  word  where  I'm  to  be  found  if  I  go 
out.      [^Goifig  L.  ]     Good-night  to  you,  Mr.  Blimboe. 

B  L  I  M  B  O  E. 
[Betoing.'\     Sir,  your  obedient  servant. 

Castleton. 
\^Pausing.'\     I  wish  you'd  let  her  in,  George.     On  my  life,  I 
long  to  see  her  ! 

Sylvester. 
Ah,  I  don't.     Till  to-morrow,  then  ! 


r>6^    LADY    URSULA      35 

Castleton. 
I  still  hope  for  to-night,     [//if  goes  off  L.     Sylvester  pours 
out  glass  of  wine.      Tbey  sit  again.  ] 

B  L  I  M  B  O  E. 

I  also  wish  that  you  had  seen  her,  if  she  be  all  Mr.  Castleton 
says. 

Sylvester. 
You  wish  it  ? 

B  L  I  M  B  O  E. 

Yes.      Whether  for  sin  or  for  sorrow  you  have  grieved  long 

enough. 

Sylvester. 

You're  a  good  friend.  But  I  can't  bring  myself  to  think  of  a 
woman. 

B  L  I  M  B  O  E. 
You*d  have  said  the  same  of  a  sword  last  night. 

Sylvester. 
Aye,  I'm  a  fool  —  if  that  helps  the  matter. 

B  L  I  M  B  O  E. 

[  Rising.  ]  Well,  it  will  be  little  use  if  you  kill  her  brother  — 
still,  when  we  meet  again  I'll  tell  you  whft  she  is  in  truth  like. 

Sylvester. 

You'll  tell  me  ?     Shall  you  see  her,  then  ? 

B  L  I  M  B  O  E. 

She's  of  my  parish  —  thanks  to  you  —  and  it  is  my  duty  to  see 
her.  I  waited  on  her  this  afternoon,  but  saw  only  the  lady  who 
is  to  marry  my  lord,  and  her  Aunt.     Lady  Ursula  was  out. 

Sylvester. 
Oh,  yes.  Lady  Ursula  was  out.     I  know  that  well  enough  ! 


36     Ti^^    ADVENTURE    (?/ 

6  L  I  M  B  O  £. 

So  I  go  to-night  to  drink  tea  and  then  make  acquaintance  with 

her. 

Sylvester. 

Not  a  word  of  this  matter  —  in  case  Hassenden  hasn't  men- 
tioned it. 

B  L  I  M  B  O  £. 

You  may  trust  me  in  that. 

Sylvester. 
But  I  hoped  you'd  bear  me  company  through  the  evening. 
What  shall  I  do  to  pass  my  time  ?     Must  I  sit  and  think  of  this 
wonderfiil  lady  ? 

6  L  I  M  B  O  £. 

Or  of  the  duel  you  are  to  fight  ? 

Sylvester. 
Plague  take  it,  no  !  I'll  go  to  town  and  find  Jack.  That'll  be 
better  than  my  thoughts.  [^Rises.']  Good-night,  old  friend. 
\_Tbey  shake  hands. ~\  I  wish  most  heartily  this  hadn't  happened. 
[  Blimboe  is  about  to  speak. '\  No,  it's  too  late.  [  Blimboe  goes 
off  L.      Sylvester   sits   moodily   by   table.      A  pause. '\      Eyes 

blue  —  her  cheeks  not  so  red !     What  was  that  nonsense  of 

Jack  Castleton's  ?     Well,  I  hope  the  boy  can  use  his  blade  a  little. 

On  my  life,  I  believe  I  shouldn't  care  if  he  used  it  better  than  I 

used  mine.  \^ighs  and  yawns. 

[^  Enter  Mills  ^.] 

Mills. 
The  gardener  you  wished  to  see  is  in  waiting.  Sir  George. 

Sylvester. 
Let  him  come  in,  then. 


Ti^^    LADY    URSULA      37 

Mills. 

He's  been  at  work  among  the  manure  and  his  feet [^ Looks 

at  carpet, '\ 

Sylvester. 

[Laughing.']  Oh,  you're  careful  for  the  carpets.  \^Rues.'\ 
Well,  I'll  see  him  in  the  kitchen.  \^Goes  R.  and  pauses.']  I 
may  go  to  town  to-night.  Be  prepared,  and  set  out  the  black 
suit.     And  let  the  chaise  be  ready  and  a  horse  stood  in  his  harness. 

Mills. 
Yes,  Sir  George.     [  Sylvester  goes  off,  followed  by  Mills  R. 
A  short  pause.  ] 

[  Enter  a  Footman  L.  ushering  in  Ursula.  She  wears 
the  blue  and  silver  suit,  a  large  hat,  a  man*s  wig  and 
a  long  cloak  folded  close  round  her.  She  looks  round 
hastily  and,  on  seeing  nobody,  sighs  as  though  in  relief, 
and  comes  down  Z.jj 

Servant. 
[  Going  R.]     I  will  inform  Sir  George  of  your  presence,  sir. 
What  name,  sir  ? 

Lady   Ursula. 
Mr.  Walter  Barrington.     You  may  add  that  I  come  on  Lord 
Hassenden's  business. 

Servant. 
Yes,  sir.     Will  you  be  seated  ?     [  Brings  chair.  ]     May  I  re- 
move your  cloak,  sir  ? 

Lady    Ursula. 
[Starting.]     Remove  my  cloak?     No,  no,  it's  —  I'm  cold. 
Pray  go  at  once.     [  Servant  goes  off.     Ursula  stands  still  till  he 
is  gone  and  then  draws  a  breath.  ]     Well,  here  I  am  in  the  house 


38     r/6^    ADVENTURE    0/ 

—  in  very  truth  in  the  house  !  And  but  for  Frank's  sake  I'd 
most  heartily  wish  myself  anywhere  else  in  the  world  —  even 
where  I  ought  to  be  —  at  home  with  the  parson  —  that  must  have 
been  he  whom  I  passed  on  the  road.  [^Smi/ifig.^  But  I'm  in  ! 
I've  won  the  stockings  from  Dorothy  !  Oh,  don't  let  me  think 
of — \^Opens  cloak'\  stockings  —  or  I'm  lost !  Here  comes  some- 
body !      \_Hasti/y  folds  cloak  again  as  Sylvester  enters  R.     Both 

bow  lorn.  ] 

Sylvester. 

I  am  Sir  George  Sylvester,  sir,  at  your  service. 

Lady    Ursula. 
I  —  I  come,  sir 

Sylvester. 

On  behalf  of  Lord  Hassenden,  if  I  understood  your  message 
rightly.  Indeed,  sir,  I  regret  that  you  have  been  put  to  this 
trouble,  but Ah,  I  live  so  much  alone  that  I  forget  all  cour- 
tesies.    Pray,  be  seated,  sir. 

Lady   Ursula. 

I  thank  you,  sir.  [  Moves  toward  chair  L.  C. 

Sylvester. 

And  allow  me  to  assist  you  to  remove  your  cloak. 

Lady   Ursula. 
No,  no.     I'm  not  hot.     Indeed,  I'm 

Sylvester. 
I  insist,  indeed  I  must  insist.     [  Goes  to  her  and  takes  off  cloak, 
flinging  it  on  a  chair  by  the  table."]     Now,  pray  be  seated  and  let 
me  offer  you  a  glass  of  wine. 

LadyUrsula. 

I  thank  you  again,  but  no  wine,  sir. 


Ti^^LADYURSULA      39 

Sylvester. 
I  was  about  to  express  my  regret  that  you  had  put  yourself  to 
the  pains  of  this  visit.  I  understood  that  the  —  er  —  affair  was 
to  be  carried  through  in  town  —  such  things  make  so  much  less 
talk  in  town  —  and  that  the  arrangements  would  be  made  there. 
My  friend,  Mr.  Marsh,  who  acts  for  me,  is  there  already.  If 
it  isn't  inconvenient  to  you,  Mr.  Barrington  —  by  the  way, 
you're  Lord  Hassenden's  brother,  I  presume  ? 

Lady   Ursula, 
Yes  —  his  younger  brother. 

Sylvester. 
[^Sittiag.']     So  I  suppose,  sir,  from  your  style  no  less  \_ Looking 
at  ber\  than  your  appearance.     I  heard  you  were  in  France. 

Lady    Ursula. 

I  have  returned  only  this  evening  —  and  —  and  I  go  back  there 

immediately. 

Sylvester. 

Permit  me  to  say,  if  I  do  not  commit  a  breach  of  etiquette,  how 
deeply  I  regret  that  such  business  as  this  should  await  you  on  your 
arrival.  However,  such  discussion  as  is  necessary  —  none,  I  fear, 
can  be  firiitful  —  you  wrill  prefer  to  conduct  with  my  friend. 

Lady   Ursula. 
No,  I  —  I  want  to  talk  to  you. 

Sylvester. 

Forgive  me,  but  had  we  not  best  be  regular  ?  Mr.  Marsh  acts 
on  my  behalf,  you  act  on  your  brother's 

Lady    Ursula. 
No,  sir,  you're  mistaken.     I  act  on  my  own  behalf. 


40     r^(f    ADVENTURE    (»/ 

Sylvester. 

I  beg  your  pardon  ?  I  didn't  catch  your  meaning.  I  have, 
alas!  much  experience,  and  in  that  your  age  doesn't  enable  you 
to  rival  me.  Your  visit,  sir,  is  not  regular,  if  you  act  for  your 
brother.  If  you  come  on  business  of  your  own,  your  visit,  how- 
ever great  an  honour  to  me,  is  ill-timed.  [i2/j^j.]  Is  your 
dudse  in  waiting  ? 

Lady   Ursula. 

[^Rising.']     Sir  George  ! 

Sylvester. 
Sir! 

Lady   Ursula. 

Is  what  they  tell  of  you  true  ? 

Sylvester. 
What  they  tell  of  a  man  is  seldom  true  —  except  when  it's  evil. 

Lady    Ursula. 
That  when  you  met  the  friend  whdm  you  killed 

Sylvester. 

It  was  by  the  unluckiest  chance 

Lady   Ursula. 
[^Stopping  bim.'\     He  had  sent  to  you  a  gentleman  known  to 
you  both,  charged  to  effect  a  reconciliation  —  and  that  you  would 
not  speak  with  the  gentleman  ? 

Sylvester. 
Yes,  it  is  true.  [A  pause. 

Lady   Ursula. 

My  chaise  is  waiting,  sir.     Shall  I  go  to  it  ? 

Sylvester. 
[  Coldly.  ]     Sit  down  and  state  your  business  —  briefly,  if  I  may 


The    LADY    URSULA      41 

beg  that  favour.     If  your  brother  can  use  his  sword  as  well  as  you 

can  your  tongue,  he  needs  no  intercession.     [  Sits^  resting  bis  bead 

on  bis  band.  ] 

Lady    Ursula. 

[  Impulsively.  ]     Ah,  forgive   me,  I  —  [  Recollecting  berself  ] 

I  should  say  that  I  am  not  here  to  intercede  for  my  brother. 

[  Sylvester  looks  up.     Ursula  sits  L.  of  table.^     Yet  I  am  here 

to  intercede. 

Sylvester. 
My  quarrel  is  vdth  your  brother  —  with  nobody  else. 

Lady    Ursula. 
I  think,  sir,  you  don't  know  —  my  sister  ? 

Sylvester. 
As  you  must  be  aware,  I  have  no  acquaintance  with  Lady 
Ursula  Barrington. 

Lady   Ursula. 
And  you  desire  none  ? 

Sylvester. 

I  must  plead  guilty  to  your  charge  ;  the  present  situation  proves 
it  against  me. 

Lady    Ursula. 

Oh,  no  need  for  an  apology.  I  assure  you  she  is  fully  as  un- 
willing to  meet  you. 

Sylvester." 

I  believe  it  undoubtedly  —  illness  alone  drove  her  to  my  inhos- 
pitable door.  And  now  she  takes  her  brother's  part  ?  Or  is  it 
her  own  grievance  ?  I  may  say  to  you,  sir,  what  your  brother's 
hasty  violence  forbade  and  must  forbid  me  to  say  to  him.  My 
refusal  to  admit  your  sister  was  not  personal  to  her ;  the  same 
message  would  have  come  to  any  lady.     My  desires  are  well 


42     7/6^    ADVENTURE    0/ 

known,  why  am  I  not  free  to  indulge  them  ?  ^Rising  and  going 
down  R.  then  turning.'^  You  will  say  your  sister  was  faint. 
[  Shrugging  bis  shoulders.  ]     Well,  I  offered 

Lady    Ursula. 
No,  sir,  I  shall  say  no  such  thing.     My  sister  was  not  faint. 

Sylvester. 
[  Starting  and  looking  at  her."]     Not  faint  ? 

Lady   Ursula. 
How  can  I  tell  you  ? 

Sylvester. 
[  Coming  and  sitting  again.  ]     What  can  you  have  to  tell  me  ? 

Lady    Ursula. 
It  grieves  me  as  deeply  to  speak  to  her  discredit  as  to  my  own. 

Sylvester. 
I  understand  your  feelings,  sir 

Lady   Ursula. 

Do  you,  indeed  ?     Well,  here  it  is.     You  and  my  brother  are 

common  victims  of  one  —  of  one  —  do  you  know  anything  of 

women  ? 

Sylvester. 

[  Smiling.  ]     I  have  passed  my  years  like  a  fool,  or  a  monk,  if 

I  don't  know  more  than  you. 

Lady    Ursula. 
Have  you  read  the  story  of  Bluebeard  ? 

Sylvester. 
A  wise  man  —  but  given  to  repeating  hopeless  experiments. 

Lady   Ursula. 
Yet  you  imitated  him.     You  set  up  his  secret  room  anew. 


The    LADY    URSULA      43 

Sylvester. 

I  didn't  give  the  key  to  any  lady. 

Lady    Ursula. 

No,  you  improved  on  the  model ;  you  dared  any  lady  to  find 

the  key. 

Sylvester. 

[  Leaning  forward.  ]     Your  sister  tried  ? 

Lady   Ursula. 
Yes.     I  am  here  to  confess  it  for  her. 

Sylvester. 
Her  faintness ? 

Lady   Ursula. 

A  trick  to  gain  admission. 

Sylvester. 

\^Smiling.'\     It  seems,  then,  that  she  did  desire  my  acquunt- 

ance. 

Lady   Ursula. 

Oh,  a  whim,  the  merest  whim.     And  indeed  I  wonder  at  it  as 

much  as  you  do  !     [  ^  pause.  ] 

Sylvester. 
Well,  she  tried  —  but  failed.     So  she  needn't  lose  her  head. 

Lady    Ursula. 
No.     She  need  only  break  her  heart. 

Sylvester. 
For  not  seeing  me  ?     I  protest  that  my  attractions  don't  war- 
rant  

Lady   Ursula. 

No  —  for  causing  her  brother's  death.     Your  skill,  sir,  is  well 
known. 


44     r^^    ADVENTURE    0/ 

Sylvester. 

Skill  is  a  bad  possession  if  it  requires  a  man  to  sit  down  under 

insults. 

Lady    Ursula. 

Yes,  but  your  true  quarrel  is  with  my  sister.  Come,  had  she 
been  in  very  truth  faint,  wasn't  your  message  discourteous  and  my 
brother*  s  anger  just  ? 

Sylvester. 

You  plead  well ;  but  then  you  confess  that  she  was  not  faint. 

Lady    Ursula. 
Aye,  but  my  brother  believed  that  she  was.     Your  quarrel,  I 
say,  is  with  her. 

Sylvester. 

Hum!     So  far  as  she  made  a  fool  of  him  as  well  as  of  me 

Lady    Ursula. 
Of  you  !     No.     She  —  she  didn't  come  near  enough.     Well, 
if  you  fight  with  ladies,  you  have  a  good  quarrel.     But  must  you 
kill  her  brother  to  punish  her  ? 

Sylvester. 
Lord  Hassenden  hasn't  pleaded  his  sister's  trick  as  his  excuse. 

Lady    Ursula. 
I  so  plead  it  now. 

Sylvester. 

By  whose  desire  ?     By  his  ? 

Lady   Ursula. 

Lord  save  us,  no  !     By  hers. 

Sylvester. 

[  With  an  impatient  laugh.  ]  Well,  we've  both  been  fooled  — 
he  and  I  —  and  my  lady  laughs  at  us  ! 


Ti^^    LADY    URSULA      45 

Lady    Ursula. 

Laughs  ?      No  —  she  weeps  —  or  would    weep  if  she  were 

alone. 

Sylvester. 

Ah,  my  good  friend  Blimboe's  with  her. 

Lady    Ursula. 
I  know  some  one  is  with  her 

Sylvester. 

And  wearies  her  ? 

Lady    Ursula. 
Oh,  not  more  than  she's  able  to  endure. 

Sylvester. 

He  promised  to  bring  me  an  account  of  her  —  though  in  truth 

I  didn't  ask  it. 

Lady    Ursula. 

By  some  she  is  thought  —  good  looking. 

Sylvester. 

And  isn't  she  ?     You  look  often  on  her  face. 

Lady    Ursula. 
I  see  it  less  than  most  of  her  intimates. 

Sylvester. 
She  might  well  be  handsome.     Yes,  your  sister  might  well  be 
beautiful  —  as,  indeed,  I  hear  she  is.     For  you,  sir,  have  a  hand- 
some face,  a  good  shape,  and  [  Looking  down  ]  a  pretty  leg. 

Lady    Ursula. 
\_  Drawing  back  her  leg  hastily. '\     You  wouldn't  surely  reason 
from  mine  to  my  sister's  ? 


46     7.6^    ADVENTURE    o/ 

Sylvester, 
According  to  the  philosophers,  where  observation  is  impossible 
we  must  use  inference. 

Lady   Ursula. 

Sir,  I  protest 

Sylvester. 
[  Laughing.  ]     On  my  life,  you're  blushing  ! 

Lady    Ursula. 
I'm  not  blushing.     The  —  the  room  is  warm. 

Sylvester. 
Yet  you  would  have  kept  your  cloak. 

Lady    Ursula. 

I  —  I  should  have  been  no  hotter  in  it.      Come,  we  are  talking 
of  my  sister,  not  of  my  leg. 

Sylvester. 
Well,  have  you  by  chance  a  likeness  of  her  ?     I  should  be  very 
willing  to  see  the  favour  of  my  petitioner's  face. 

Lady    Ursula. 
Oh,  yes.     I  have  a  very  speaking  likeness  of  her. 

Sylvester. 
Pray  give  it  me. 

Lady    Ursula. 
Give  it  you  ?     It's  early  days  indeed  for  that  !     And  would 

you  keep  it  ? 

Sylvester. 

[  Laughing.  ]     Against  all  comers  —  if  once  I  had  it  for  my 

own.     But  I  meant  only  —  show  it  me. 


The    LADY    URSULA     47 
Lady   Ursula. 

By  ill-luck  I  have  left  it  behind.     It's  in  —  in  my  wardrobe  — 
with  some  other  trifles  that  I  sometimes  wear. 

Sylvester. 
Love  tokens  ?     You're  young,  sir,  to  wear  such  trifles. 

Lady    Ursula. 

I  might  call  you  young  to  have  forsworn  them.      But  I'll 

describe  her  to  you  —  as   I  saw  her  last,   standing  before  her 

mirror. 

Sylvester. 

Is  she  often  in  that  position  ? 

Lady    Ursula. 

So  I  see  her  most  often. 

Sylvester. 
She  has  vanity  in  her,  then  ? 

Lady    Ursula. 
You  shall  hear  her  excuse.     Her  eyes  are 

Sylvester. 
I  know  —  blue. 

Lady    Ursula. 
Hum  !     You  know  ?     Her  colour 

Sylvester. 

Oh,  moderate.     Neither  high  nor  yet  pallid.     Well  enough,  I 

dare  say. 

Lady    Ursula. 
Her  mouth 

Sylvester. 

Of  middle  size  —  neither  so  small  as  to  be  insignificant,  nor  so 
large  as  to  be  outrageous. 


48      7/6^    ADVENTURE^/ 

LadyUrsula. 
Your  infonnant,  sir,  is  accurate  in  his  information,  if  cold  in 
his  description.     Pray  who  is  he  ? 

Sylvester. 

No  matter.  The  information  is  his,  the  coldness,  I  fear,  mine. 
He  raved  as  far  as  beyond  reason  as  [  Smiling  ]  doubtless  your  sister 
is  beyond  comparison. 

Lady   Ursula. 
I  know  nothing  of  that.     I  love  her  too  well  to  speak  of  her 
impartially. 

Sylvester. 

Is  she  so  virtuous  ? 

Lady   Ursula. 
Such  duties  as  she  cannot  avoid  she  does. 

Sylvester. 

So  gentle  ? 

Lady   Ursula. 
A  temper  like  a  summer  breeze,  rising  and  falling. 

Sylvester. 
Hum  !     So  patient  ? 

Lady    Ursula. 
Of  every  man  except  a  fool  —  and  of  him  when  no  other's  by. 

Sylvester. 
So  decorous  ? 

Lady   Ursula. 

You  would  have  known  that  if  you  hadn't  turned  her  from 

your  door. 

Sylvester. 

So  loving  ? 


7.6^    LADY    URSULA      49 

Lady   Ursula. 
Loving  ?     Oh,  as  for  that,  I  can't  tell. 

Sylvester. 
But  you're  her  brother. 

Lady   Ursula. 

True,  true,  she  loves  me  weU,  very  well.     Of  other  love  she 

knows  nothing  yet. 

Sylvester. 

She  will  soon,  no  doubt. 

Lady   Ursula. 

[  Eagerly.  ]     Do  you  think  she  will  ? 

Sylvester. 

If  she's  so  handsome  —  and  as  little  coy  as  would  seem  to  be 

the  case. 

Lady   Ursula. 

As  little  coy  as !     In  faith,  she's  monstrously  coy, 

Sylvester. 
Yes  —  sometimes  she  faints  for  very  coyness,  eh  ?     Come,  you 
must  cure  her.     Such  coyness  doesn't  fit  a  woman  of  fashion. 
On  my  soul,  they  would  take  care  to  faint  not  outside  your  door, 
but  well  within  it. 

Lady   Ursula. 
\^Rising.'\     Ah,  I  see  that  you  won't  forgive  her. 

Sylvester. 
Yes,  I  will. 

Lady   Ursula. 
You  will  —  ah,  thank  Heaven  ! 

Sylvester. 
On  a  condition. 


so     T  Jbe    ADV  E'N  TV  KE    of 

Lady   Ursula. 

Not  that  Frank  —  that  Hassenden  must  make  you  an  apology  ? 

I  fear  he 

Sylvester. 

No.     On  condition  that  [  He  rises  ]  you  give  me  the  likeness 

which  is  in  your  wardrobe. 

Lady   Ursula. 

You  ask  before  seeing  it !     And  shouldn't  you  ask  it  of  Ursula 

herself? 

Sylvester. 

If  I  like  it  when  I  see  it,  I  will  ask  it  of  her. 

Lady   Ursula. 
A  bargain,  a  bargain  !     But  I  don't  know  whether  she'll  give  it 

Sylvester. 
She  fainted  only  for  a  sight  of  me  ! 

Lady   Ursula. 
She  might  faint  less  after  a  sight  of  you.     Seeing  is  believing  — 
but  dreaming  often  is 

Sylvester. 
Loving  ?     Aye,  and  loving  dreaming.     But  I  shall  like  her  well, 
if  she  has  your  merry  wit  and  —  shall  I  say  twice  yo\ir  looks  ? 

Lady   Ursula. 
Twice  my  looks !     Well,  perhaps  some  day  you  shall  see  the 
portrait.     So  she  is  forgiven  ? 

Sylvester. 
[  Holding  out  bis  band.  ]     Most  heartily. 

Lady   Ursula. 

[  Taking  bis  band.  J     And  her  brother  for  her  sake  ? 


The    LADY    URSULA      51 

Sylvester. 
Oh,  the  lesser  sinner  with  the  greater.     [  l'he;j  shake  bands,  3 

LadyUrsula. 

And  am  I  forgiven  ? 

Sylvester, 

Why,  where*  s  your  offence  ? 

Lady   Ursula. 

In  wearying  you  so  long. 

Sylvester. 
You  are  forgiven  for  your  vdt  —  and  —  well,  for  that  pretty  leg 
of  yours.      Blushing  again  !      Pray  imitate  that  sort  of  coyness 
which  b  your  sister's. 

Lady   Ursula. 

I'm  nearer  to  it  than  you  think  —  and  than  my  appearance 

proves. 

Sylvester. 

Pray,  where  is  your  sister  ?     We  are  friends  now  ? 

Lady    Ursula. 

With  all  my  heart  and  all  my  gratitude. 

Sylvester. 

Then  take  me  to  her. 

Lady   Ursula. 
Take  you  to  her  ? 

Sylvester. 

Yes  —  at  Lord  Hassenden's.     We  shall  find  Blimboe  there,  and 
you  and  he  shall  wimess  my  apology. 

Lady   Ursula. 

I  —  I  can't  take  you  to  her.     She's  —  she's 


52      T  Jhe    ADV  E^rV  RE    of 

Sylvester. 
[  Slapping  her  en  the  shoulder.  ]     Come,  come ;  she  wasn't  un- 
willing to  see  me  before. 

Lady    Ursula. 

[  Confused.  ]     No,  she's  —  she's  not  unwilling  to  see  you,  no, 

in  no  way,  sir.      But  she's  —  she's  —  Oh,  she's  gone  to  town 

with  my  brother. 

Sylvester. 

To  town  with ? 

Lady   Ursula. 
Yes  —  and  —  and  —  I  —  I  must  follow  her  at  once.     Indeed, 
I've  stayed  too  long  already. 

Sylvester. 
For  your  convenience  perhaps,  not  for  my  pleasure.     As  for 
Lady  Ursula 

[  Enter  Mills,  R.  ] 

Mills. 

Do  you  wish  the  chaise  to  wait  any  longer.  Sir  George  ?     Are 
you  going  to  town  ? 

Sylvester. 

Going  to  town  ?     Yes,  I'm  going  to  town.     But  your  chaise  is 
here,  Mr.  Barrington  ? 

Lady    Ursula. 
[Puzzled."]     Yes. 

Sylvester. 

And  you  go  to  town  ?     [  Ursula  hesitates.  ]     You  said  as  much 

this  instant. 

Lady    Ursula. 

Oh,  yes  —  I  —  I'm  going  to  town. 


The    LADY    URSULA       53 

Sylvester. 
\^Catching  her  arm.']  By  Heaven,  we'll  go  together  !  To- 
gether we'll  seek  your  brother  and  end  this  silly  quarrel.  Thank 
God,  it's  done  !  I  always  hated  it.  And  then  —  why,  then 
we'll  beg  to  see  your  sister  —  she  shall  not  deny  it  or  I'll  fall  into 
a  most  damnable  faint  !  And  we'll  obtain  leave  to  do  as  we  will 
with  that  likeness  of  hers  in  your  wardrobe.  Come,  what  say 
you  ?  [  Ursula  hesitates.  ]  Oh,  we're  friends  now  —  you  can't 
refuse  !  [  To  Mills.  ]  Put  my  chaise  back.  Mills  —  I  ride  wdth 
Mr.  Barrington.  [  Ursula  sinks  into  her  chair.  ]  Why,  are  you 
fainting  now  ?      [  Laughs.  ]      There's  no  need ;   you're  in  the 

house  already. 

Lady    Ursula. 

Thank  you  —  I  —  I'm  very  well.     For  a  moment  I  felt 

Sylvester. 
Faint,  eh  ?     Gad,  Mr.  Barrington,  it's  in  the  family  !     Are  you 
well  enough  to  drive  with  me  ?     If  not,  pray  rest  here  to-night. 
Indeed  I  shall  be  honoured.     I'll  postpone  my  journey  and  keep 
you  company. 

Lady   Ursula. 

No,  no  —  I 

Sylvester. 
Pray  let  me  bid  them  prepare  a  room 


Lady   Ursula. 
No,  no,  not  for  the  world  !     Indeed,  sir  — ^ 

Sylvester. 
Call  me  Sylvester. 

Lady    Ursula. 

Indeed  —  Sylvester  —  with  all  my  thanks  to  you  —  I  would 
rather  go  with  you  to  town  than  —  than  stay  here  with  you. 


54     r^^    ADVENTURE    (?/ 

Sylvester. 
You  don't  love  my  house  so  much  as  your  sister  does  ?  Well, 
I  forgive  you  —  no  doubt  you  have  business.  [  Pours  out  wine.  ] 
Drink  a  glass  of  wine  vi^hile  you  wait,  for  I  must  beg  a  quarter-of- 
an-hour  in  which  to  change  my  dress.  [  71?  Mills.  ]  Mr.  Bar- 
rington's  chaise  in  twenty  minutes. 

Mills. 
Yes,  Sir  George.     [  Goes  off",  R.  ] 

Sylvester. 

[  To  Ursula  who  sits  by  table  in  bewilderment.  ]  I'll  lose  no 
time.  \Going  to  her.'\  On  my  soul,  Barrington,  I'm  rejoiced 
that  the  affair  ends  so  happily.  [  Going  R.'\  I  wouldn't  have 
killed  your  brother  for  —  [  Pauses  and  laughs.  ]  —  why,  even  for 
the  sake  of  the  likeness  in  the  wardrobe.  I'll  be  with  you  directly. 
[  Goes  offt  R.      A  Pause.     Ursula  sits  still  a  moment.  ] 

Lady  Ursula. 
[  Springing  up.  ]  Ends  happily  !  Heaven  help  me,  it  ends 
neither  happily  nor  at  all  !  I  must  go  to  London  with  him,  must 
I  ?  —  Seek  my  brother  with  him,  find  my  brother  vdth  him  ?  — 
Seek  my  sister  with  him,  find  my  sister  vnth  him  ?  Or  if  I  make 
my  escape  and  go  home,  why,  he'll  get  first  to  Frank,  and  tell 
Frank  —  Oh,  and  tell  Frank  that  Walter  has  a  pretty  leg  !  What 
shall  I  do  ?  Another  time  every  man  in  the  world  shall  kill  every 
other  before  on  their  account  I  put  on  what  I  wear  now  !  [  Takes 
up  cloak  and  wraps  it  round  ber.'^     Yet  I  wouldn't  have  Frank 

hurt [  Smiles.  ]    No,  nor  Sir  George — nor  Sir  George.    What 

was  that  he  said  ?  A  handsome  face  —  a  good  shape  —  Oh,  he'll 
be  back  !  I  won't  wait  for  him.  I'll  go  now  —  to  London,  to 
Frank.  I  must  tell  Frank  myself.  Sir  George's  chaise  is  put  back 
—  I  shall  have  ten  minutes  start [  Runs  Z.  ]    I  must  get  first 


r>6f    LADY    URSULA       S5 

to  Frank.    Quilton,  Quilton  !    [  Reaches  Joor,  L.    At  that  moment 
Blimbob  enters  ;  they  almost  come  into  collision.  ] 

B  L  I  M  B  O  E. 

Sir  —  I  —  I  beg  your  pardon. 

Lady   Ursula. 

[Hastily. 1^     Oh,  I'm  to  blame.     [Wraps  cloak  halfway  over 

her  face.  ]     Your  servant,  sir,  your  servant.      [Bows  and  goes  off 

hastily.  ] 

B  L  I  M  B  O  £. 

[  Coming  down.'^      Who's  that,  I  wonder  !     Sir  George  has  had 

a  visitor  —  one  not  over-eager  to  stay  long,  it  seems  !     And  where 

is  Sir  George  ?     [Enter  Mills,  R.,  carrying  Sylvester's  cloak  and 

hat."]     Who  was  that  gentleman.  Mills  ? 

Mills. 
The  gentleman,  sir?      [Looks  round.']      Why,  where  in  the 
devil's  name  is  he  ? 

B  L  I  M  B  O  E. 

If  you  leave  the  devil  alone,  perhaps  he'll  leave  you  alone.  Mills. 
The  gentleman  ran  out  as  I  came  in  —  he  was  in  haste,  as  it 
appeared. 

Mills. 

Ran  out  ? 

B  L  I  M  B  O  £. 

At  his  top-speed.  [  Mills  runs  up  L.  ]  Who  was  he  ?  Why, 
where  are  you  running  to  ? 

Mills. 
[  Pausing.  ]     He  was  to  go  to  London  with  Sir  George. 

B  LI  M  BOE. 

If  he  goes  as  fast  all  the  way.  Sir  George  mustn't  linger.  Mills, 
Mills  !     [  Mills  shakes  his  head,  points  with  his  finger,  and  runs 


56     The    ADVENTURE    of 

offy  L.     Enter  Sylvester,  R.,  in  the  black  suit.     He  looks  round 

with  surprise.  ] 

Sylvester. 

You  back,  Blimboe  ?     You're  early.     But  where' s  Mr.  Barring- 
ton  ? 

B  L  I  M  B  O  E. 
Mr.  Barrington  ? 

Sylvester. 

Yes,  yes  —  Walter  Barrington.     He  was  to  carry  me  to  London 

in  his  chaise. 

Blimboe. 

Walter  Barrington  ?     Why,  he's 

Sylvester. 
[  Impatiently.  ]  Yes,  man,  Walter  Barrington  —  Hassenden's 
brother  and  —  and  Lady  Ursula's.  The  quarrel's  made  up  —  I'll 
tell  you  about  that  another  time  —  it's  a  pretty  story.  But  where 
is  the  boy  ?  Oh,  no  doubt  Mills  has  taken  him  to  a  dressing- 
room,  to  put  a  touch  to  his  hair  or  to  wash  his  ■ 

Blimboe. 

No,  Sir  George,  no.     Mills  hasn't [^Enter  Mills,  L., 

still  carrying  cloak  and  hat.  ~\ 

Sylvester. 
Well,  Mills,  where* s  Mr.  Barrington  ?     Is  he  ready  ? 

Mills. 
[Putting  down  cloak  and  hat.'\     He's  gone.  Sir  George. 

Sylvester. 
Gone  ?     Gone  ?     Where  to  ?     How,  when,  why  ? 

Mills. 
To  town,  as  I  judge.  Sir  George,  by  the  turn  they  took ;  in  his 


Sylvester. 

Mills. 
Sylvester. 


T  be    la  PlT>Y    URSULA       S7 

chaise.  Sir  George  —  at  a  gallop.  Sir  George  —  but  why,  God 

knows.  Sir  George. 

Sylvester. 

Did  he  leave  no  explanation  ? 

Mills. 
No,  Sir  George. 

No  message  ? 

No,  Sir  George. 

No  apology  ? 

Mills. 
No,  Sir  George.     [  Sylvester  sinks  into  a  chair,  R.  ]     Can  I 
do  anything.  Sir  George  ? 

Sylvester. 

Yes  —  go [Mills  goes,  Z,.  ]     Go  to  the  devil  after  Mr. 

Barrington. 

Mills. 

[  Alarmed.  ]     Yes,  Sir  George.     [  Goes  off,  L.  ] 

B  L  I  M  B  O  E. 
My  dear  ftiend,  what's  the  meaning  of  this  ?     Who  is  this  Mr. 
Walter 

Sylvester. 

\  Jumping  up.~\  Why,  he's  the  impudent  brother  of  an  impu- 
dent sister  —  and  I'll  be  revenged  on  both  of  them.  [Blimboe 
sits.  Sylvester  walks  about  the  stage.  ]  You  should  have  heard 
him  !  So  pretty  in  his  pleading,  so  anxious  for  a  reconciliation,  so 
friendly,  so  cordial  in  his  sentiments  !  We  were  to  go  to  town 
together  —  to  seek  Hassenden  together  —  to  meet  Lady  Ursula  — 
Oh,  a  plague  on  all  the  family  !  —  together And  —  now 


58      T  J!)e    ADV  EN  rU  RE    of 

he  leaves  me  in  the  lurch  —  without  a  word,  without  excuse.  I*ve 
done  with  his  brother,  but  I'll  be  revenged  on  him.  By  my  soul, 
I  won't  be  made  a  fool  of  by  all  the  family  in  turn. 

B  L  I  M  B  O  E. 

Stop,  stop  !  [  Rises.  ]  My  dear  Sir  George,  by  talking  so  fast 
you  exhaust  yourself  without  informing  me.  You  say  this  gentle- 
man was  Mr.  Walter  Barrington  ? 

Sylvester. 

[^Impatient/y.^     Yes,   yes.      ^F/ings  himself  into   chair   R.    of 

table.  ] 

B  LI  M  BOE. 

But  Mr.  Walter  Barrington  is  still  abroad. 

Sylvester. 
No,  no ;  he  arrived  home  to-day  —  and  came  over  from  Lord 
Hassenden's  to  see  me. 

B  L  I  M  B  O  E. 
Hum.     [5//J  L.  of  table.  ]     That's  not  what  is  thought  at  Lord 
Hassenden's.      They  believe  him  to  be  still  in   France.      Mrs. 
Fenton  told  me  so  herself. 

Sylvester. 

What  ?      Still  in  France  ?      Does  Lady  Ursula But  I 

forgot ;  you  haven't  seen  Lady  Ursula. 

B  L  I  M  B  O  E. 

No,  she  was 

Sylvester. 
I  know  —  she  was  gone  to  London  with  Lord  Hassenden. 

B  L  I  M  B  O  E. 
To  London  ?     No,  no,  my  dear  friend  j  you're  mistaken,  in- 


T/^f    LADY    URSULA       59 

deed  you  are.      Lady   Ursula  hasn't  gone  to  London  with  her 
brother,  but  to  bed  with  a  headache. 

Sylvester. 
What  ?     What's  that  you  say  ? 

B  LI  M  BOE. 
I  say  only  what  Miss  Fenton  and  her  aunt  both  told  me,  as  an 
excuse  for  the  lady's  absence. 

Sylvester. 

Well,  I've  been  made  a  fool  again,  and  by  a  boy  without  a  hair 
on  his  chin.  Ah,  if  you  want  a  duel,  you  shall  have  it  now, 
friend  Blimboe  —  aye,  though  he  is  Lady  Ursula's  brother  ! 

Blimboe. 

Though  he's 

Sylvester. 

Yes,  yes.     I  have  no  more  anger  against  her.     He's  my  game 

now. 

Blimboe. 
But  he's  in  France. 

Sylvester. 

Nonsense,  man.     Do  the  ladies  always  know  where  the  men  of 

the  house  are  ? 

Blimboe. 

It  seems  that  here  they  don't  know  even  where  the  ladies  of  the 

house  are.     For  certainly  Lady  Ursula  cannot  be  both  in  bed  with 

a  headache  and  gone  to  London  with  her  brother.     [  A  pause.  ] 

Sylvester. 

It's  mysterious.      Pray,  Blimboe,  what  do  you  think  ? 

Blimboe. 

Oh,  I  know  nothing  of  the  ways  of  women. 


6o     Ti^^    ADVENTURE    0/ 

Sylvester. 
Hum.     I  thought  I  knew  everything.     [  Rises.  ]     Oh,  but  it 
can't  be  !     It's  absurd  ! 

B  L  I  M  B  O  E. 
[  Jumping  up.  ]     What's  absurd  ? 

Sylvester. 
By  Gad,  he  blushed  ;  he  blushed  when 

B  L  I  M  B  O  E. 

When  what  ?      [  Enter  Mills,  L.      He  comes  downy   holding 

small  lace   handkerchief  in   his   hand,   and  comes  C.       Turns  to 

Blimboe.  ] 

Mills. 

Mr.  Blimboe,  sir,  is  this  your  handkerchief?     [^Holds  it  »/. J 

Blimboe. 

My  handkerchief  ?     That  ?     No.      [  Takes  from  pocket  a  very 
large  bandanna  and  holds  it  up.  ]     This  is  my  handkerchief. 

Mills. 
\To  Sylvester.  ]     Is  it  yours.  Sir  George  ? 

Sylvester. 
No.     [  Takes  out  a  large  but  fine  handkerchief  and  holds  it  up.  ] 
Here  is  my  handkerchief. 

Mills. 
And  certainly  it  is  not  mine.  Sir  George. 

Blimboe. 

[  Examining  it.  J     It  looks  like  —  like  what  I  conceive  might  be 
a  —  lady's  handkerchief. 

Sylvester. 

Let's  see.      \Snatches  and  examines  it.'\     Yes,  a  lady's !     Per- 


r.6^    LADY    URSULA       6i 

haps  one  of  the  trifles  in  his  wardrobe  which  that  puppy  sometimes 

wears. 

B  L  I  M  B  O  E. 

[Pointing.  ]     Ah,  isn't  that  a  mark  on  the  comer  ? 

Sylvester. 
What  ?     Where  ?     Yes,  it's  a  mark.     The  Harrington  crest. 

B  L  I  M  B  O  E. 

And  no  name  ? 

Sylvester. 

[  Looking  again,  then  crushing  handkerchief  in  his  hand  and  hesi- 
tating. ]  No  —  no  —  no  name.  Good-night,  Blimboe,  good- 
night. Mills,  my  chaise  at  once  !  [  Mills  goes  off,  L.  Syl- 
vester gees  up  L.,  puts  on  hat  and  takes  cloak.  ] 

Blimboe. 

You'll  tell  me 

Sylvester. 
[  Coming  down.  ]      What  ?      [  Looks  again  covertly  at  handker- 
chief.^ 

Blimboe. 

If  you  find  out  anything. 

Sylvester. 

Yes,  yes.     [  Blimboe  goes  R.  ]     Good-night  —  the  Harrington 

crest  and 

Blimboe. 

Good-night.     [  Goes  off,  R.'\ 

Sylvester. 
The  Barrington  crest  —  and,  by  Heaven,  Ursula  !      Does  he 
carry  his  sister's  handkerchief?      Mills,  the  chaise,  the  chaise  ! 
What  else  is  there  in  that  wardrobe  ?   Mills,  I  say.  Mills  !    [  Enter 
Mills,  Z.] 


62    The    ADVENTURE,    ^c. 

Mills. 
The  chaise.  Sir  George  ?     In  an  instant.  Sir  George.     Shall  I 
take  charge  of  the  handkerchief? 

Sylvester. 
No,  no.     I'll  keep  the  handkerchief.     The  chaise,  deuce  take 
you,  sir,  the  chaise  !     [  Mills  goes  off,  L.     Sylvester  goes  L.  — 
stops  —  turns,  holds  up  handkerchief  and  laughs,  j     Another  duel, 
then  !     And  this  time  —  I  choose  the  weapons.  Lady  Ursula  ! 

CURTAIN 


ACT      III 

Ten  p.m.  Lord  Hassenden's  lodgings  in  London, 
near  St.  James*  Palace.  A  door  up  R.  L.C.  a 
table  set  with  dessert  and  decanters.  Has  senden 
sits  at  head,  on  his  R.  Dent,  L.  Castleton. 
Clifford,  Devereux  and  Ward  round  the 
table.  'They  are  drinking.  Hassenden  is  in 
full  uniform.  Dent  in  private  dress.  The  rest 
in  undress  or  mess  uniform.  As  curtain  rises, 
Hassenden  gets  up. 


Hassenden. 
RAY,  gentlemen,  don't  disturb  yourselves.  The 
evening  is  young,  and  although  duty  calls  me 
away,  I  should  grieve  to  spoil  your  entertainment. 
[  Dent  half  rises.  ]  No,  I  insist.  [  Presses  him 
back  into  bis  seat.  ] 

Dent. 

But  how  long  is  your  guard  ? 

Hassenden. 
Till  twelve  o'clock. 

Ward. 
By  gad,  we'll  wait  for  you.     Won't  we,  Castleton  ? 


64     Ti^^    ADVENTURE    0/ 
Castleton. 

With  all  my  heart  —  if  his  cellar  holds  out  against  our  attack. 

Clifford. 

We'll  make  a  breach  in  its  walls  ! 

Hassenden. 

No,  no,  you  mustn't  wait  —  I  shan't  be  returning.  I  have 
ordered  my  horse  to  be  ready  for  me  at  the  door  of  the  guard-room, 
and  I  shall  ride  direct  to  Edgware. 

Devereux. 
To  Edgware  ? 

Clifford. 

To-night  ? 

Hassenden. 
Without  disrespect  to  you,  friends,  I  have  reasons  for  wishing 
to  return  home  at  once. 

Devereux. 
The  usual  reason,  Hassenden  ? 

Dent. 

We  can  guess  it,  eh  ?     A  lady  ?      [  They  laugh.  ] 

Hassenden. 

Yes,  a  lady  —  the  lady  whom  I  hope  soon  to  present  to  you  as 
Lady  Hassenden. 

Clifford. 
Oh,  your  pardon,  your  pardon  ! 

Hassenden. 

She  is  our  guest  now. 

Dent. 

You're  well  excused,  then,  and  we  mustn't  press  you  to  rejoin  us. 


r>^^    LADY    URSULA      65 

Hassenden. 
And,  as  you  know,  Casdeton,  I  have  a  special  reason  for  wish- 
ing to  see  her  as  soon  as  possible  to-morrow.     [  Goes  doton,  R,,  to 
fetch  his  hat  which  lies  on  a  small  table.  ] 

Castleton. 
I  know,  Frank,  I  know.  \_Rises  and  follows  him  doton,  leaving 
the  rest  drinking  and  talking.'^  Come  now,  Frank,  entrust  this 
matter  to  me.  I'm  your  friend  and  his.  He  comes  to  my  lodg- 
ings to-morrow  morning  —  perhaps  even  to-night.  Let  me  say 
something  to  him  in  your  name.  Believe  me,  he  will  be  eager  for 
a  reconciliation  ;  his  reputation  makes  it  easy  for  him  to  meet  you 

half  way. 

Hassenden. 

Yes,  but  impossible  for  me  to  travel  my  half  of  the  road.  I'm 
obliged  to  you.  Jack,  sincerely  obliged  —  but  I  must  pay  my  debts 
—  and  my  sister's.  Nothing  can  be  done  —  the  affair  must  go 
on.  ^Looks  at  watch  —  then  hastily.'\  My  hour's  past.  Good- 
night, Jack.  [  Shakes  bis  hand.  Goes  up,  R.  J  Good-night, 
friends,  good-night ! 

All  at  the  table. 

Good-night,  good-night.  [  Hassenden  goes  off,  R.  Castleton 
goes  to  table,  sits,  and  takes  wine.  ] 

Dent. 

Our  host  seems  anxious  —  at  least  not  in  his  usiial  spirits. 

Castleton. 
He  has  a  troublesome  affair  on  hand. 

Devereux. 
An  affiur  ?     Of  this  sort  ?     [  Imitating  fencing.  ] 

Castleton. 
I'll  tell  you  nothing  ;  I  still  hope  that  it  may  be  arranged. 


66     TJbeADVEl^rUREof 

Ward. 
At  least.  Jack,  let's  have  no  Joicey  and  Mc Arthur  over  here. 
It's  w^ell  enough  for  the  Irish,  but,  in  faith,  in  a  Christian  country 
—  it's  nothing  but  sheer  murder. 

Dent. 

Murder  !  No,  no.  Ward.  It's  a  pretty  taking  of  an  even 
chance  —  a  very  gentlemanly  throw  with  fortune.  And  it  has  a 
very  fine  excitement  in  it. 

Devereux. 
It  kills  one  man  for  certain  —  that's  praise  enough  in  Dent's  eyes. 

Dent. 

If  you  fight  across  the  table,  and  load  both  pistols,  why  I  grant 
you  it's  murder,  and  that  in  an  indiscriminate  fashion.  But  with 
one  pistol  empty,  come,  you'll  allow  that  it's  a  nice  test  of  a  gentle- 
man's coolness  and  so  should  be  countenanced  ? 

Clifford. 

So  long  as  my  countenance  is  not  pressed  into  the  service,  have 

it  as  you  will. 

Castleton. 

Ah,  Dent,  you'd  shoot  your  own  brother  with  pleasure  if  only 

the  affair  was  conducted  in  proper  form. 

Dent. 

[  Earnestly.  ]     On  my  life  I  wouldn't  —  not  without  full  cause. 

Clifford. 

As  —  for  example  ? 

Dent. 

Well,  that  he  spoke  ill  of  a  lady  I  affected. 

Ward. 
Or  that  he  affected  a  lady  you  spoke  ill  of? 


J/6^    LADY    URSULA      67 

Devereux. 

Or  that  a  lady  you  affected,  affected  him  ? 

Dent. 

Oh,  faith,  there  are  reasons  enough,  if  you  start  on  them. 

Castleton. 
What  ?     For  a  man  to  shoot  his  brother  ? 

Dent. 

Even  his  brother.  A  gentleman  should  not,  in  his  relations 
towards  another  gentleman,  presume  on  the  accident  of  kinship. 
I  don't  hold  His  Majesty's  Commission,  as  you  do,  gentlemen. 
But  I'll  defend  my  honour,  even  against  my  brother. 

Castleton. 
Have  you  a  brother  ? 

Dent. 

No. 

Castleton. 
Thank  God  !     We're  saved  a  tragedy. 

Devereux. 
[  Laughing.  ]     A  brother-in-law,  perhaps  ? 

Ward. 

That  was  the  relationship  between  Joicey  and  McArthur. 

Dent. 

There,  sir,  you  touch  on  the  one  unpleasant  aspect  of  the  case. 

Clifford. 
Yes,  I  don't  like  that.     They  had  been  close  friends,  too. 

Dent. 

Sir  Robert  Clifford  misunderstands  me.  I  mean,  there  is  a 
natural  hostility  between  a  man  and  his  wife's  family 


68      TJ^e    ADV  ENTV  RE    of 

All. 
[  Laughing.  ]     Oh,  oh  ! 

Dent. 

Which  imparts  to  the  affair  an  ugly  look  of  premeditation.  On 
my  soul,  in  the  circumstances,  I  shouldn't  have  been  surprised  if 
the  Grand  Jury  had  found  a  true  bill  !  But  we'll  hope  for  the 
best,  and  indeed  I'm  told,  as  Sir  Robert  says,  that  the  gentlemen 
had  been  close  friends. 

C  A  S  T  L  E  T  O  N. 

Ah,  aye,  we'll  hope ;  we'll  hope  McArthur  loved  Joicey  con- 
sumedly  before  he  shot  him,  and  wept  on  his  grave  afterwards. 
[  Enter  a  Servant.  ]     Well  ? 

Servant. 
I  beg  pardon,  sir.     I  thought  that  my  lord  was  here. 

C  ASTLETON. 
No,  he's  gone  on  guard.     Is  he  inquired  for  ? 

Servant. 
There's  a  gentleman  asking  for  him,  sir. 

Castleton. 
Why  doesn't  the  gentleman  come  in  ? 

Clifford. 

Aye,  let  Wm  come  in. 

Servant. 

When  1  told  him  that  my  lord  entertained  company,  he  declmed 

to  come  in,  sir. 

Dent. 

Hum  !     Well,  if  you  didn't  tell  him  who  we  were 

Servant. 
I  did  not,  sir. 


T/^^r    LADY    URSULA      69 

Dent. 

Then  there's  no  offence,  I  suppose.     What's  his  name  ? 

Servant. 

The  gentleman  will  not  give  his  name,  sir. 

Ward. 

[  Jumping  up.  ]    Oh,  a  plague  on  the  fellow's  mystery  !    Come, 

shall  we  have  him  in  ? 

Devereux. 

\^  Jumping  up. '\     Aye,  let's  have  him  in.     We'll  have  sport 

with  him. 

Clifford. 

[  Jumping  up.  ]  I'm  with  you.  Come  along.  [  Ward,  Dev- 
ereux and  Clifford  run  off  laughing.     Servant  lets  tbem  go  by 

and  follows  tbem  off.  ] 

Dent. 

Yet  on  consideration  there  is  something  churlish  in  his  conduct. 

Yes,  yes  !    It  is,  indeed  it  is,  a  reflection  on  our  host.     For  a  slur 

on  his  company  is  a  slur  on  his  friends,  and  a  slur  on  a  man's 

friends  is  a  slur  on  a  man  himself —  and  a  slur  on  a  man  —  on  a 

gentleman 

Castleton. 

Oh,  without  doubt  Hassenden  must  run  him  through  the  heart ! 

You've  proved  it  by  the  book.  Dent,  and  without  a  flaw.     [A 

slight  scuffle  and  cries  of  "  Come  along,  sir,  come  with  us,**  are  beard 

off  R.'\    What's  going  on  there  ?     [  Enter  Ward,  Devereux  and 

Clifford  dragging  Ursula  on.     She  comes  reluctantly,  but  they 

bring  her  to  the  table  and  make  her  sit  down  at  the  bead.  J 

Ward. 

Come,  sir,  we're  wiser  for  you  than  you  ^ould  be  for  yourself. 
Here's  good  company  and  good  wine.  Let  me  pour  you  a  glass. 
[  They  sit.  ] 


7©     The    ADVENTURE    of 

Lady    Ursula. 

But,   gendemen,    I  —  I  —  have    pressing   business  with  Lord 

Hassenden. 

Clifford. 

He's  on  guard,  sir.     You  can't  see  him  now. 

Devereux. 
And  after  that  he  goes  direct  to  Edgware. 

Lady    Ursula. 
To  Edgware  ?     [  Tries  to  rise.  ] 

Ward. 
No,  no,  you  mustn't  break  away  from  us  like  that.     \ Presses 
her  back  into  her  seat."] 

Dent. 

[  To  Ursula.]  You  shall  do  as  you  will,  presently,  sir,  but 
for  the  moment  we  must  constrain  you. 

Ward. 
You  can't  be  so  uncivil  as  to  leave  us  immediately. 

Lady    Ursula. 

But,  gentlemen 

Dent. 

No,  no  !  Let  me  present  the  company.  Here  is  Mr.  Castle- 
ton  —  Mr.  Ward  —  Sir  Robert  Clifford  —  Mr.  Devereux  —  all 
of  His  Majesty's  Guards.  I,  sir,  am  called  Dent,  and  am  very 
much  at  your  service  for  every  purpose  except  to  show  you  the 
door.  [  ji//  rise  and  bow  —  Ursula  rises  and  bows  nervously. 
They  sit  again.     A  pause. '\      Will  you  honour  us  with  your  name, 

sir  ? 

Lady    Ursula. 

My  —  my  business  being  secret,  my  name  had  best  be  secret, 

too.     [  All  except  Castleton  and  Ursula  exchange  glances.  J 


r>6f    LADY    URSULA      71 

Dent. 

As  you  will,  sir.  I  may,  however,  point  out  to  you  that  you 
are  among  men  of  honour. 

Castleton. 
Oh,  drink  your  wine.  Dent,  and  never  mind  your  honour. 

Lady    Ursula. 
[  To  Dent.  ]     Indeed  I  don't  doubt  it,  sir. 

Dent. 

Mr.  Castleton,  I  am  not  accustomed  to  forget  my  honour.  [  To 
Ursula.]  And  a  secret  told  to  men  of  honour  is  more,  not  less, 
of  a  secret  than  before.     Is  it  not  so,  gentlemen  ? 

Clifford  and  Dent. 
Yes,  yes. 

Ward. 

Dent's  right ;  it  is  certaiidy  so. 

Castleton. 

Nonsense,  say  I  !  A  man's  name  is  his  own,  to  give  or  to 
withhold.      [  To  Ursula.  ]     A  glass  of  wine  with  you,  sir. 

Lady    Ursula. 
I  must  beg  you  to  excuse  me  ;  I  will  not  drink  to-night. 

Dent. 

The  gentleman  is  not  companionable.     He  joined  us  only  under 

compulsion,  he  will  not  trust  us  with  his  name,  he  will  not  drink 

with  us. 

Lady    Ursula. 

On  my  word,  gendemen,   I  mean  no  offence  —  none  in  the 

world. 

Dent. 

Then  give  me  leave  to  observe,  sir,  that  your  behavior  might  be 
better  matched  than  it  is  with  your  intentions. 


72     r^^    ADVENTURE    0/ 

Castleton. 
On  my  life,  this  shall  go  no  further  !      Come,  gentlemen,  a 
toast !     I'll  give  you  one  that  we  should  drink  under  this  roof. 
Pray,  Dent,  no  quarrels  to-night ! 

Dent. 

As  you  will.     The  gentleman  is  young  and  perhaps  errs  through 

ignorance. 

Lady    Ursula. 

I  own,  sir,  there  is  room  for  me  to  grow  wiser. 

Ward. 
Your  toast.  Jack,  your  toast ! 

Devereux. 
Yes,  the  toast ! 

Castleton. 

[^Rist/tg.^     Here  it  is  —  Our  host's  sister,  the  beautiful  Ursula 

Barrington  !     We'll  drink  her  now  ;  if  what  they  say  is  true,  all 

the  town  will  drink  her  soon.      Come,  bumpers  ! 

Clifford. 
Aye,  bumpers  —  and  standing,  gentlemen  !    \^  All  stand.     Ward 
Jills  Ursula's  glass.    She  looks  at  him  a  moment  and  then  stands  up.  ] 

All. 
[  Except  Ursula.  ]     The  beautiful  Ursula  Barrington  !     [  They 
hold  up  glasses  and  are  prepared  to  drink.  ] 

Dent. 
\^To  Ursula.]     You  don't  drink,  sir  !     On  my  faith  now,  to 

refuse  a  toast 

Lady    Ursula. 

\Hurriedly  lifting  glass.  ]    Indeed,  sir  —  I  —  I  drink  very  will- 
ingly now,  sir.     \_Raises glass.  ^    The  beautiful  Ursula  Barrington  ! 


r>^f    LADY    URSULA      73 

All. 
Ursula  Bamngton  !     [  They  drink  and  then  sit  again.  ] 

Dent. 

Though  in  plain  truth,  and  saving  your  presence,  Castleton,  I'm 
cold  that  the  young  lady  is  nothing  out  of  the  common. 

Lady    Ursula. 

[  Startled.  ]     Nothing  out  of  the [  All  turn  and  look  at 

her.     She  stops  in  confusion. "^ 

Dent. 

You  had  heard  otherwise,  sir  ? 

Lady    Ursula. 
I  —  I  —  indeed  I  have  some  reason  to 

Castleton. 
So  in  fidth  have  I.     Why,  Dent,  her  hair  ! 

Dent. 

There's  none  too  much  of  it,  and  when  not  powdered  it  has,  I 
am  assured,  a  plain  touch  of  red  ! 

Lady    Ursula. 
[I<w.]    Red! 

Ward. 

Oh,  oh  ! 

Clifford. 

He'll  allow  merit  to  nobody. 

Castleton. 
But  her  cheek  — — 

Dent. 

Like  the  milk  maid's  in  a  frost.     Too  much  colour  for  the  taste 
of  the  town,  believe  me. 


74     r/6^    ADVENTURE    0/ 

Castleton. 
Nay,  then,  her  mouth 

Devereux. 
Grant  him  her  mouth.  Dent,  for  pity's  sake  ! 

Dent. 

Truth  is  truth  —  and  her  mouth  is,  I  believe,  for  all  the  world 
like  a  leg  of  mutton  with  a  slice  cut  out ! 

Lady    Ursula. 
[Zoo/.]    Oh! 

Ward. 
[  To  Castleton.  ]     Another  feature.  Jack  !     You're  not  bank- 
rupt yet. 

Castleton. 
Then  her  nose  ! 

Dent. 

I  grant  you  —  I  concede  her  nose.     It  is  very  pious  —  it  points 
the  straight  way  to  heaven. 

Castleton. 
Oh,  a  plague  on  his  concessions  !     Well,  then,  her  eyes 

Devereux. 
She  has  nothing  else  left  —  so  pray  be  merciful.  Dent. 

Dent. 

One  I  admit  is  well  enough. 

Ward  and  Clifford. 
[  Laughing.  ]     One  ! 

Lady    Ursula. 
[  Lota.  ]     One  ! 

Dent. 

But  the  other  admires  its  fellow  so  intemperately  that  it  is  forever 


r-6^    LADY    URSULA      -j^ 

trying  to  see  it  across  her  nose.     [  Turning  to  Ursula.  ]    In  plain 
English,  she  squints,  sir,  like  a  Turk. 

Lady    Ursula. 
\^  Jumping  up.~\     Oh,  I'll  not  endure  it  !     It's  a  calumny  ! 

Dent. 

You  are  acquainted  with  the  lady  we  speak  of,  sir  ? 

Lady    Ursula. 
\^  Confused.'^      No,   no  —  I  —  I'm  not  acquainted  with  her. 
No  —  I  never  saw  her  in  my  life. 

Dent. 

Then  let  me  observe,  sir,  that  you  do  ill  to  accuse  me  of  calumny 
when  you  know  nothing  to  the  contrary  of  what  I  say. 

Ward. 
[  Lew,  to  Clifford.]      He'll  have  his  quarrel  yet. 

Clifford. 
Oh,  he  won't  be  baulked  of  that. 

Dent. 

[  To  Ursula.]      You  mark  my  words,  sir  ? 

Lady    Ursula. 
I  care  not.     I  know  it  is  a  calumny. 

Castleton. 
Why,  so  do  I  —  the  merest  calumny.     It's  told  by  some  jealous 
woman  or  some  disappointed  suitor. 

Dent. 

[  Rising.  ]  You,  Castleton,  are  allowed  a  liberty  which  this 
gentleman,  a  stranger,  can  hardly  claim.  [  To  Ursula.]  Sir,  do 
you  repeat  that  what  I  say  is  calumny  ? 


76     r.6^    ADVENTURE    0/ 

Lady    Ursula. 

[  Indignantly.  ]     Yes,  I  do.     Of  the  rest  I  say  nothing  ;  but 

she  does  not  squint. 

Dent. 

[  Shrugging  bis  shoulders.  ]     I  say  she  does  ;  and  since  I  say 

she  does  —  and  you  say  she  doesn't  —  why,  sir,  you  say  that  I 

lie.     [  Ursula  starts  back.     All  jump  up.  ] 

Castleton. 

No,  no  !     In  heaven's  name.  Dent 

Dent. 

\^Going  down,  R.^     I  won't  be  interfered  with.     [  To  Ursula, 
who  has  come  to  C.  J     Do  you  say  I  lie,  sir  ? 

Lady    Ursula. 
I  —  I  say  —  she  doesn't  squint. 

Dent. 
[  To  Ward,  Clifford  and  Devereux,  who  have  come  down,  L., 
and  stand  together. '\      Gentlemen,  I  appeal  to  you  ! 

Clifford. 

That  is  —  he  says  you  lie  ;  for  calumny,  I  take  it,  is  but  Latin 

for  lie. 

Lady    Ursula. 

I  protest  —  I  protest Indeed,  you  twist  my  words. 

Devereux. 
What  other  meaning  is  there  in  the  words  ? 

Ward. 
And  he  has  repeated  them  three  times.     [  Taking  a  step  to 
Ursula,  ]     You  know,  sir,  what  is  usual  among  gentlemen  ? 

Lady    Ursula. 
I  —  I  don't  understand 


r^^    LADY    URSULA      ^j 

Castleton. 
In  heaven's  name,  are  we  to  quarrel  over  such  a  trifle  ? 

Dent. 

The  matter  has  gone  too  far  for  your  intervention,  Mr.  Castle- 
ton. [  He  crosses  to  L,  and  whispers  an  instant  to  Ward.  Castle- 
ton catches  Ursula  by  the  arm  and  draws  her  to  R.,  speaking  in 
her  ear.     She  is  bewildered.     Dent  turns.^      I  understand  the 

gentleman  persists  ?    Then [  Shrugs  his  shoulders.    All  stand 

looking  at  Ursula.      A  pause.  ] 

Castleton. 
I'U  have  no  part  in  this.     The  gentleman  has  given  no  sufficient 
offence. 

Dent. 

Say  you  so  ?  That  plea  shall  not  serve.  If  there  is  not  offence 
enough,  why,  here  is  more.  [  He  draws  a  glove  from  his  pocket  and 
advances  towards  Ursula,  intending  to  strike  her  in  the  face  with  it. 
She  stands  still.  ]  Do  you  understand  this,  sir  ?  \^He  raises  his 
hand.  As  he  does  so^  a  servant  enters.  They  hear  him.  All  look 
rounds  except  Ursula,  who  stands  rigid.     Dent  arrests  his  blow.  J 

Servant. 
Sir  George  Sylvester.     [  Enter  Sylvester.     Servant  lets  him 
pass  and  then  goes  off,  after  a  curious  look  round  on  the  scene.  ] 

Lady    Ursula. 
[  Lorn.  ]     Sir  George  Sylvester  ! 

Castleton. 
What  ?     George  !     You  here  —  at  Hassenden*s  ! 

Sylvester. 
Yes.     I  am  here  —  at  Lord  Hassenden's.     If  you  require  an 
explanation,  I  will  give  it  later.     For  the  present  —  I  am  here 


78     r^^    ADVENTURE    0/ 

seeking  a  certain  gentleman [  Sees  Ursula  and  comes  down, 

C,  facing  her'.  Dent  draws  back  a  little,  Z. ]  Ah,  there  I  see 
him  !  [  Takes  off  his  hat,  bows  to  Ursula,  and  Jlings  hat  on  the 
table.  J  Your  servant,  sir.  [  Ursula  does  not  move.  ]  I  must 
trouble  you  with  a  word  on  a  matter  which  you  can  have  no  diffi- 
culty in  guessing,  Mr.  Barrington. 

All. 
Mr.  Barrington  !     Barrington  ! 

Sylvester. 

\Smiling.  ]  Hasn't  Mr.  Barrington  announced  himself?  I  have 
pleasure  in  perfomung  that  office  for  him.  Gentlemen,  Mr.  Walter 
Barrington,  Lord  Hassenden's  brother. 

Dent. 

Now,  by  heaven,  I  may  put  my  glove  back  in  my  pocket  — 
there's  no  need  of  further  offence  now.  Look  you,  gentlemen.  By 
the  concealment,  the  wilfiil  concealment,  of  his  name,  he  has 
betrayed  me  —  me,  a  man  of  breeding  —  into  speaking  disparag- 
ingly of  a  lady  in  the  presence  of  her  brother  !  \^Coming  C,  to 
Sylvester.  ]     Pray  give  me  leave.  Sir  George  ! 

Sylvester. 
[  Not  moving^     Give  you  leave,  Mr.  Dent  ?     I'm  so  unfor- 
tunate as  not  to  understand  you. 

Dent. 

Oh,  it's  plain  enough  —  and  but  for  your  coming  the  matter 
would  have  been  well  advanced  by  now.  \^Indicating  Ursula.] 
I  have  a  quarrel  wdth  this  gentleman. 

Sylvester. 
Gad,  that's  strange.     So  have  I ! 

Lady   Ursula. 
What  ?     Must  I  fight  both  of  you  ? 


r-6^    LADY    URSULA      79 

Dent. 

[  To  Sylvester.  ]  When  I  tell  you  of  my  cause  for  offence 
which  arose  just  now 

Sylvester. 
Pardon  me.     I  have  no  leisure  to  hear  it.     Whatever  it  be,  I 
claim  precedence.     My  quarrel  arose  earlier  in  the  evening  —  at 
my  own  house  at  Edgware. 

Lady    Ursula, 
At  Edgware  !     A  quarrel  at  Edgware  ? 

Dent. 

I  am  very  reluctant  to  yield  to  you.  Sir  George.  And  I  thought 
you  had  sworn  to  go  out  no  more. 

Sylvester. 
There  are  things  which  a  man  cannot  endure.     Let  me  tell  you. 

Dent. 

In  truth,  I  don*t  like  this.  Coming  after  you,  I'm  likely  to 
find  an  opponent  not  worth  a  thrust.  I'm  convinced,  sir,  that  my 
quarrel  makes  up  in  gravity  what  it  lacks  in  seniority. 

Sylvester. 
No,  no  ;  I  insist  on  my  seniority. 

Castleton. 

But,   George,  your  quarrel  is  not  with  Mr.   Harrington  here, 

but  vnth 

Sylvester. 

By  your  leave.  Jack,  I  say  it  is  with  Mr.  Barrington.     You  shall 

hear. 

Lady    Ursula. 

Pray  let  me  hear  —  for  I  vow  I  know  of  no  quarrel. 


8o     r>6^    ADVENTURE    0/ 

Ward,  Clifford  and  Devereux. 
Yes,  let's  hear. 

Dent. 

What  the  plague,  Castleton,  is  it  your  business  to  spoil  every 
quarrel  ? 

Ward. 

Now  let's  hear  Sylvester. 

Sylvester. 
Mr.  Barrington  shall  correct  me  if  I  err  in  any  particular.     At 
my  house  at  Edgware  to-day  this  gentleman  presented  himself. 
He  came  on  important  business.     Is  it  not  so,  sir  ? 

Lady    Ursula. 
Yes,  it  is  so. 

Sylvester. 

Our  conversation  was  long,  and  it  was  friendly.    Is  it  not  so,  sir  ? 

Lady    Ursula. 
Yes. 

Castleton. 

Friendly  ?     Why,  then,  George 

Sylvester. 
[Smiting.l^  No,  no.  Jack.  Pray  keep  him  quiet,  gentlemen. 
[  Castleton  crosses  to  Ward,  who  whispers  to  him.  Castleton 
makes  a  sign  of  discontent.  ]  At  the  end  of  our  conference,  it  ap- 
peared that  Mr.  Barrington  was  proceeding  to  London.  I  was  to 
go  next  day  —  to  Jack  Castleton' s  here.  But  for  the  pleasure  of 
his  company  I  changed  my  plans.     Mark  me,  for  his  sake  I  changed 

my  plans. 

Dent. 

I  mark  that.  Sir  George.    Faith,  it  may  be  a  fact  of  great  moment. 

Sylvester. 
His  chaise  was  at  the  door.     I  proposed  to  ride  with  him.     Gen- 


r>6^    L  A  D  Y    U  RS  U  L  A      8i 

demen,   he  accepted  my  proposal  with  cordiality  —  with  great 
cordiality.     Is  it  not  so,  sir  ? 

Lady    Ursula. 

I  —  I  can  deny  none  of  it. 

Sylvester. 
Thus  we  were  to  go.  Then  I  begged  a  few  minutes  in  which 
to  change  my  dress  and  make  myself  fit  for  his  distinguished  com- 
pany. He  agreed  readily.  I  went,  leaving  him  in  my  dining- 
room.  ^A pause.l^  Gentlemen,  I  am  at  your  disposal.  Pray 
listen.     When  I  returned,  Mr.  Barrington  was  gone  ! 

All. 
[  Except  Ursula.  ]     Gone  ! 

Sylvester. 

Gone  —  run  off — without  a  word  —  an  explanation  —  an 
apology  —  an  excuse.  I  was  left  in  the  lurch,  a  misguided  fool 
—  while  he  went  up  to  town,  laughing  at  me  ! 

Ward. 
Monstrous ! 

Lady    Ursula. 

I  —  I  did  not  laugh. 

Dent. 

The  denial  is  limited  —  very  strictly  limited.     He  went  —  but 

he  did  not  laugh. 

Devereux. 

A  great  palliation,  truly  ! 

Clifford. 

Palliation  !     Nay,  it  seems  to  me  that  it  aggravates  his  offence. 

Dent. 

True,  true.  It  shows  that  the  act  was  no  mere  whim,  but  a 
deliberate  premeditated  insult. 


82     7^6^    ADVENTURE    0/ 

Sylvester. 
What  say  you,  gendemen  ?     Have  I  a  good  cause  of  quarrel  ? 

Devereux. 
A  rank  afiront ! 

Ward. 

I  never  heard  worse. 

Clifford. 
You  can't  sit  dovm  under  it.  Sir  George. 

Dent. 

Faith,  it*s  a  better  quarrel  than  my  own.     I'll  not  give  up  my 
rights,  but  I'll  yield  you  precedence,  hang  me  if  I  won't. 

Castleton. 
But,  Mr.  Barrington,  surely  you  have  some  explanation,  some 
excuse  to  offer  to  Sir  George  ? 

Lady    Ursula. 
None.     None  that  I  can  give. 

Sylvester. 

[  Advancing  a  step  towards  her  and  smiling.^     Have  you  none, 
sir  ?     No  plea  to  disarm  my  resentment  ? 

Lady    Ursula. 
No,  I  have  none. 

Dent. 

He's  utterly  intractable. 

Sylvester. 
You're  sure,  sir  ?     No  explanation,  no  excuse  ? 

Lady   Ursula. 
Ndther,  sir. 

Dent. 

Then  the  course  is  plain.     We  waste  time  in  talking. 


The    LADY    URSULA      83 

Sylvester. 
Still  one  moment,  please  !     I  want  to  ask  Mr.  Barrington  — 
this  gentleman  here  —  one  question  —  before  you  all. 

Dent. 

Sir  George,  at  the  stage  we  have  reached,  is  it  regular 

Sylvester. 
Forgive  me.     The  position  is  —  peculiar.     [  To  Ursula.  ]     If 
you  and  I  were  alone,  sir,  would  you  give  any  excuse  which  you 
will  not  give  before  others  ? 

Lady   Ursula. 

There  is  no  excuse  that  I  would  or  could  give  to  you.  Sir  George. 

Dent. 

Then  the  affidr  goes  on  ! 

Clifford  and  Devereux. 

Undoubtedly. 

Ward. 

To-morrow  morning,  I  suppose  ? 

Lady   Ursula. 

No.      [They  turn  to  ber.^     If  I  must  fight,  I  will  fight.     But 

I  can't  fight  to-morrow. 

Dent. 

Oh,  take  your  time.     The  next  day,  then  ? 

Lady    Ursula. 

No.     If  I  fight  at  all,  I  fight  here  and  now.    [  J  movement  of 

the  rest.  ] 

Castleton. 

What  ?     Here  ?     Now  ? 

Dent. 

Irregular  !     Most  irregular  ! 


84     r^e"    ADVENTURE    0/ 

Lady    Ursula. 
I  am  challenged.     Haven't  I  choice  of  time  and  place  ? 

Castleton. 
Oh,  if  you  insist.     And  neither  of  you  are  in  the  Service. 

Ward. 
We  shouldn't  venture  to  fight  in  such  a  fashion. 

Dent. 

Clear  the  room,  then.  Have  that  table  back.  [Devereux, 
Clifford  and  Ward  go  to  table  and  take  hold  of  it  preparatory  to 
moving  it.  ]  Shall  I  act  for  you.  Sir  George  ?  And  perhaps  Castle- 
ton   

Lady    Ursula. 

Pray  don't  move  the  table  in  that  way,  gentlemen.     [  The  three 

look  round  at  her.  ]    Into  the  middle  of  the  room,  please.    [  Goes  C.  ] 

Here,  if  you  please. 

Castleton. 

The  middle  of  the  room  ?     It  will  be  in  your  way,  Mr.  Bar- 

rington. 

Lady   Ursula. 

No.     It  will  be  between  us. 

Dent, 

Between  you  ?    The  deuce  !    You  fight  with  swords,  I  take  it,  sir? 

Lady   Ursula. 
I  beg  that  Mr.  Castleton,  if  he  acts  for  me,  will  stipulate  that 
we  fight  with  pistols. 

Sylvester, 
[  Startled.}     Pistols ! 

Dent. 

Well  —  Mr.  Barrington  is  the  challenged  party. 


The    LADY    URSULA       85 

"^W  A  R  D. 
I  don't  like  pistols  in  the  dining-room. 

Dent. 

Nor  I.  But  —  Hassenden  has  duelling  pistols,  I  know.  Castle- 
ton,  I  shall  need  your  help. 

Castleton. 
In  what? 

Dent. 

In  loading  the  pistols. 

Lady    Ursula. 

In  loading  one  of  them.  [  Sylvester  starts.  All  look  at  her,  ] 
In  loading  one  of  them.  You  force  me  to  fight  Sir  George  Syl- 
vester. I  will  fight  in  my  own  way.  Set  the  table  between  us 
and  load  one  pistol.     We  will  fight  as  Colonel  Joicey  and  Mr. 

McArthur  fought. 

Sylvester. 

What? 

Lady   Ursula. 

The  table  between  us,  and  one  pistol  loaded,  sir. 

Sylvester. 
Good  God  !     [  He  looks  intently  at  her.     She  smiles.     The  rest 
whisper  together.     A  pause. '\ 

Lady   Ursula. 

Thus,  sir,  our  skill  will  be  equal  —  and  our  chances.     Do  you 

quarrel  with  that  ? 

Dent. 

Faith,  sir,  I  don't.     And  now  you  shall  see,  gentlemen,  that  I 

was  right,  and  that  such  an  affair  makes  a  pretty  spectacle. 

Castleton. 
It's  murder,  damned  murder. 


86     ri6^    ADVENTURE    (?/ 

Lady   Ursula. 
Let  those  who  urged  on  the  quarrel  reckon  with  that. 

Sylvester. 

[  7o  Dent.  ]     By  God  —  I  meant  only  to  disarm  him  —  if  he 

fought  at  all. 

Dent. 

Aye,  but  you're  in  for  something  more  now.     Gad,  I'm  no 

coward,  but  I  begin  to  regret  less  my  courtesy  in  yielding  you 

precedence. 

Lady    Ursula. 

Pray  bring  the  pistols.     My  time  is  short. 

Dent. 

In  this  world,  sir  ? 

Lady   Ursula. 
In  the  same  world  with  Sir  George. 

Dent. 

On  my  honour,  well  answered  !  Given  a  bit  of  luck  to-night, 
you'll  live  to  become  a  wit ! 

Castleton. 
You  can't  mean  this,  Mr.  Barrington  ! 

Ward, 
In  truth,  I  myself 

Lady   Ursula. 
I  mean  it  absolutely. 

Dent. 

The  pistols,  then  !  Clifford,  I  believe  you'll  find  them  on  the 
shelf  there  by  the  mantelpiece.  [Clifford  crosses,  R.,  to  mantel- 
piece, finds  box  containing  pistols  and  brings  it  to  Dent.  He  opens 
it  and  takes  pistols,  giving  box  to  Clifford,  toho  puts  it  on  table 


r^^    LADY    URSULA      87 

and  stands  L.  again.  ]     We  turn  our  backs  and  load  one  of  them, 

Castleton. 

Castleton. 

Lord  forgive  us  !    \^He  crosses  to  Dent,  L*     Tbey  turn  and  stand 

together  over  the  pistol.  ] 

Sylvester. 
[Raising  bis  band. ]     Stop  !     [All  turn  towards  bim.  ]     I  will 
not  fight  on  these  terms  or  in  this  manner.     I  have,  I  believe, 
proved  my  courage.     But  I  have  no  mind  either  to  murder  this 
gentleman  or  to  be  murdered  by  him.     [  A  pause.  ] 

Dent. 

Hum  !    Your  courage.  Sir  George,  is  doubtless  beyond  the  need 

of  vindication.     But  you  have  challenged  Mr.  Barrington,  and  he 

has  chosen 

Sylvester. 

A  barbarous  mode  of  encounter. 

Dent. 

Ah,  one  in  which  your  courage  has  not  yet  been  proved.     [  He 
smiles  and  looks  at  Ward,  Devereux  and  Clifford,  wbo  laugb.  ] 

Sylvester. 

With  any  gentleman  here,  except  my  friend  Jack  Castleton  and 

Mr.  Barrington,  I  am  ready  to  prove  it  in  that  mode  also.    [  Ward, 

Devereux  and  Clifford  grow  grave.  ]     Shall  I  begin  with  you, 

Mr.  Dent  ? 

Dent. 

\5miling.'\     My  dear  Sir  George,  have  we  a  quarrel?     No, 

no  !     And  I  agree  that  you  might  hesitate  if  Jack  Castleton,  your 

old  friend,  were  in  question.     But  Mr.  Barrington  has,  as  you 

yourself  insist,  grossly  affronted  you.     Come,  gentlemen,  doesn't 

Sir  George  owe  us  a  reason  for  this  refusal  ? 


88     Ti^^    ADVENTURE    d?/ 

Ward. 
I  think  he  does. 

Clifford. 

To  offer  a  challenge  and  decline  the  acceptance 

Devereux. 
Oh,  I  say  nothing.     But  Mr.  McArthur  held  himself  bound  to 
accept,  and  the  clubs  in  Dublin  approved  his  conduct. 

Dent. 

They  offered  him  a  banquet,  sir,  after  the  event  —  but  he  de- 
clined, through  a  sensibility  possibly  excessive. 

Lady    Ursula. 
Pray,  gentlemen,  when  your  discussion  is  ended  —  the  pistols  ! 

Sylvester. 
I  will  not  fight  thus. 

Ward. 

We  await  your  reasons.  Sir  George  Sylvester. 

Sylvester. 
Mr.  Barrington  had  incensed  me  by  his  uncivil  conduct,  I  would 
have  given  him  a  lesson  in  manners.     But  I  will  not  fight  him  as 
Joicey  and  McArthur  fought. 

Dent. 

The  reason,  sir ! 

Sylvester. 

Will  you  have  the  reason  ? 

Dent. 

We  wait  for  it. 

Ward. 

Yes ;  we  are  waiting  for  it. 

Sylvester. 
Here  it  is,  then.     [  He  looks  hard  at  Ursula.  ]     In  aiming  at 


r.6^    LADY    URSULA      89 

Mr.  Bamngton,  I  should  aim  at  his  sister.  Lady  Ursula.    [  Ursula 
starts.    All  show  surprise."]    To  whom  his  life  is  as  dear  as  her  own. 

Castleton. 

Lady  Ursula  ? 

Sylvester. 
And  I  —  gentlemen,  we  are  private  here  —  I  have  too  deep  an 
interest  in  that  lady  to  suffer  me  to  injure  her. 

Castleton. 
But,  George,  you  never  saw  her  ! 

Sylvester. 

[  Looking  at  Ursula  —  slowly  and  smiling  a  little.  ]  I  am  not 
sure.  Be  that  as  it  may  —  for  Lady  Ursula's  sake  I  will  not  meet 
that  gentleman  in  the  mode  that  he  proposes. 

Dent. 

A  strange  attitude.  Sir  George,  if  I  may  make  free  to  observe  so 

much. 

Sylvester. 

If  my  attitude  offends  you,  Mr.  Dent,  or  anyone  here,  I  am 

ready  to  answer  the  offence.     And  I'll  not  complain  if  you  or  he 

choose  Joicey  and  McArthur's  way.     There  is  the  table  ! 

Ward. 
[  Laughing.  ]     On  my  life,  I'm  not  for  you  in  that  fashion. 

Clifford. 

NorL 

Devereux. 

[  Laughing.]     I'll  keep  myself  for  my  wife's  family. 

Ward. 

Come,  let's  be  friends.  Sir  George's  courage  needs  no  proof; 
Mr.  Barrington  has  given  full  evidence  of  his.     And,  seeing  Sir 


90     r>6^    ADVENTURE    <?/ 

George's  mood,  I  think  Mr.  Dent  must  allow  that  he  has  been 
mismformed  concerning  Lady  Ursula. 

Dent. 

Indeed,  if  Sir  George  has  ceased  to  hate  women  for  her  sake 

Castleton. 

Why,  it  would  seem  as  though  her  eyes  looked  straight,  after  all. 

Sylvester. 
For  my  part  I  will  accept  Mr.  Harrington's  apology,  if  he  will 
assure  me  that  he  had  good  cause  for  his  behaviour  —  although  it 
be  such  that  he  can't  give  it  here. 

Castleton. 
Come,  Mr.  Barrington,  don't  be  behind  Sir  George  in  com- 
plaisance. 

Lady   Ursula. 

In  good  truth,  gentlemen,  I  had  the  best  of  reasons  —  but  one 
I  cannot  give  to  you. 

Clifford. 
By  heaven,  a  lady  in  the  case  ! 

Devereux. 
Ha-ha! 

Dent. 

For  a  thousand  pounds,  now  ! 

Ward. 
Confess  yourself,  Mr.  Barrington  ! 

Lady   Ursula. 

[^Smi/i/fg.J^     I  must  own  it  —  a  lady  in  the  case. 

Castleton. 
I  thought  as  much. 

Sylvester. 

I'd  have  sworn  it !     And  one  that  looks  straight,  sir  ? 


The    LADY    URSULA      91 

LadyUrsula. 
Why,  yes  —  at  least,  when  a  man  she  likes  is  in  front  of  her. 

Castleton. 

And  whose  mouth  is 

Lady   Ursula. 
Well  enough  to  speak  and  eat  with.    Beyond  that  I  cannot  tell. 

Devereux  and  Clifford. 
Oh,  oh ! 

Dent. 

And  her  cheeks,  sir  ? 

Lady   Ursula. 
Not  over-red  —  if  only  they're  let  alone. 

Ward. 

Bumpers  again  !     [  He  goes  to  table.  ]     Bumpers  !     And  in  all 

friendship  ! 

All. 

[  Following  towards  table.  ]   Agreed,  agreed !    [  They  stand  round 

table  and  Jill  glasses.'\ 

Castleton. 
A  double  toast  now  !     We'll  drink  to  the  ladies  —  Sir  George's 
and  Mr.  Barrington's  ! 

Ward. 
And  if  God  makes  Sir  George  and  Mr.  Barrington  brothers-in- 
law  —  why.  He  has  sent  them  warning  by  the  fate  of  Joicey  and 

McArthur  ! 

Devereux. 

The  toast !     And  then  to  bed  ! 

Sylvester. 
I'll  gjve  it,  then.     [Holds  up  glass. '\     Here's  to  the  beautiful 
Lady  Ursula  !     [  Pauses.  ] 


92     r^^    ADVENTURE    o/ 

Dent. 

Go  on,  sir,  go  on.     There'll  be  a  new  quarrel  if  you  forget  the 
other  lady. 

Sylvester. 

[  Looking  at  and  bowing  to  Ursula.  ]     And  the  lady  whom  in 
all  the  world  Mr.  Barrington  loves  best.      [  They  all  raise  glasses.  ] 

Castleton. 
[  To  Ursula.  ]     Drink,  sir,  drink. 

Lady    Ursula. 
I  drink  to  both  of  them.     [  All  drink.  ] 

Castleton. 

And  when  they  meet,  may  they  love  one  another  !     [  They  set 

down  glasses.  ] 

Sylvester. 
I  think  they  will. 

Lady   Ursula. 
I  trust  so,  indeed. 

Castleton. 
And  now  —  to  bed.      \^All  except  Ursula  and  Sylvester  pre- 
pare to  go.  ] 

Sylvester. 

[  Coming  down,  R.']     If  Mr.  Barrington  will  allow  me,  I  have 
one  word  for  his  private  ear. 

Lady   Ursula. 

\^S  tar  ting.  ]     I  am  —  I [  Coming  down,  Z.  ]      I  am  at 

your  service,  sir. 

Dent. 

[  Turning  to  Ursula.]      Good-night,  sir.      Yet,  I  beg  you, 

practice  in  future  a  more  polite  mode  of  fighting. 

Lady    Ursula. 
My  fighting,  sir,  shall  grow  more  polite  if  your  speech  will. 


r^V    LADY    URSULA      93 

Ward. 
He  has  you.  Dent !     Let  him  alone  ! 

Clifford. 
Aye,  and  you  thought  the  mode  pretty,  you  remember  ! 

Dent. 

Faith,  so  I  did  —  till  Sir  George  proposed  to  try  it  with  me. 
[All  laugh.  Ward  takes  Clifford's  arm  and  goes  off  with  him, 
followed  by  Devereux,  laughing  and  talking,  ]  Good-night.  [  Goes 
towards  dooTy  but  pauses.    Castleton  goes  to  him  and  takes  his  arm.  j 

Castleton. 
To  bed,  to  bed. 

Dent. 

[  To  Ursula.  ]  Practice  the  sword,  sir  —  the  sword.  Your 
figure  is  made  for  the  art. 

Lady   Ursula. 
I  pray  heaven  it  be  made  for  other  purposes. 

Castleton. 
Come,  Dent,  will  you  be  gone  ? 

Dent. 

For  a  barbarous  mode  of  resentment  unduly  confines  freedom  of 
opinion.    Pray  think  on  this.    Good-night.    [  He  bows  and  goes  off.'\ 

Castleton. 
Mr.  Barrington,  your  servant.     [  They  bow.'\     George,  you'll 
follow  me  presently  ? 

Sylvester. 
As  soon  as  I  have  said  what  I  want  to  say  to  Mr.  Barrington. 

Castleton. 
Good  !     Till  then  !      \Waves  his  hand  and  goes  off.     Ursula 
and  Sylvbstek /ace  one  another.     A  pause.      Then  Ursula  reels  a 


94     Ti^^    ADVENTURE    o/ 

little.     Sylvester  springs  forward  to  help  her,  but  she  stops  bim, 
makes  her  zoay  to  a  chair  and  stands  resting  her  arm  on  its  back. 

Lady   Ursula. 
You  —  you  have  something  to  say  to  me  ? 

Sylvester. 

But  a  word  or  two.     From  your  not  giving  your  name  to  these 

gentlemen,  I  presimie  that  you  vdshed  your  movements  not  to  be 

known  ? 

Lady   Ursula. 

It  is  so.    I  wouldn't  have  joined  them,  but  they  forced  me  in. 

Sylvester. 
And  from  your  readiness  to  fight  in  that  most  desperate  fashion 
sooner  than  risk  discovery,  I  presume  that  your  relations  with  this 
lady  are  a  profound  secret  ? 

LadyUrsula. 

A  secret  most  profound.  Sir  George. 

Sylvester. 
Probably  when  you  leave  here  you'll  seek  her  ? 

Lady   Ursula. 
Her  first  —  and  then  my  brother. 

Sylvester. 
[  With  a  disappointed  air.  ]  Ah,  then,  I  fear  you  can't  do  me 
the  service  I  had  meant  to  ask  of  you.  I  regret  it,  sir,  but  I  under- 
stand your  position.  As  regards  your  brother,  I  am  of  the  same 
mind  as  before.  Pray  present  my  compliments  to  him.  Good- 
night.    [  Turns  away.  ] 

Lady   Ursula. 
Pray  wait,  pray  wait !     What  is  the  service  you  desire  of  me  ? 


The    LADY    URSULA      95 

Sylvester. 
But  if  you  seek  this  lady  immediately,  you  can't  perfonn  it. 
Good-night. 

Lady    Ursula. 

Sir,  sir,  a  moment 

Sylvester. 
For  the  service  I  would  have  begged  of  you  is  to  seek  your  sister 
immediately.     So Again,  good-night.     [  Goes  up.  ] 

Lady   Ursula. 
[  Following  bim.  ]     You*rc  very  hasty.     [  Sylvester  pauses  and 
turns.  ]     Perhaps  —  perhaps  I  could  contrive  to  see  my  sister  also. 

Sylvester. 
What  ?   At  the  same  time  as  the  lady  ?    No,  no,  Mr.  Barrington  ! 

Lady   Ursula. 
I  —  I  —  mean  —  on  the  way.     Why,  yes,  sir,  why  not  ?    On 
my  way  to  the  lady. 

Sylvester. 
[  Coming  down  a  little.  ]     The  lady  lives  near  your  sister,  then  ? 

Lady   Ursula. 

[  Coming  down.  ]     Yes  —  very  near  —  quite  near. 

Sylvester. 
[  Following  her  down.  ]    You  heard  what  I  said  about  your  sister  ? 

Lady    Ursula. 

About  my Oh,  I  assure  you  I  took  it  as  no  more  than  a 

device  to  extricate  yourself  from  a  difficulty. 

Sylvester. 

^Smiling.  ]     As  no  more  than  that  ? 


96     T  Jbe    ADV  ENTU  RE    of 

Lady    Ursula. 
As  no  more,  indeed.     [  Laughs  nervously.     Sylvester  /augbs, 
too.  ]    What  more  could  it  be  —  if —  if  you  haven't  seen  the  lady  ? 

Sylvester. 

[  Slowly.  ]  True  —  if  I  haven't  seen  her.  [  A  short  pause,  he 
smiling,  she  confused.  ]  To  return  —  you  will  carry  my  message 
to  her  ? 

Lady   Ursula. 

With  all  my  heart.     What  is  it  ? 

Sylvester. 
But  do  you  think  she  will  listen  to  it  kindly  ? 

Lady   Ursula. 
If —  if  I  can  persuade  her,  sir,  she  will. 

Sylvester. 

Tell  her,  then,  that  if  she  will  to-morrow  again  stop  before  my 
door,  she  shall  be  most  truly  welcome. 

Lady   Ursula. 

I  will  give  your  message. 

Sylvester. 
[Advancing  a  step  towards  her."]     But  what  will  its  reception 
be  ?     Is  she  of  a  forgiving  temper  ? 

Lady   Ursula. 

Towards  those  who  please  her. 

Sylvester. 
Do  I  please  her  ? 

Lady    Ursula. 
How  —  how  should  you  —  if  you  have  never  seen  her  ? 


Ti^^    LADY    URSULA      97 

Sylvester. 
Ah,  true  —  if  I  have  never  seen  her.     But  should  I  please  her 
if  she  saw  me  ? 

Lady   Ursula. 

That  she  shall  tell  you  when  she  sees  you. 

Sylvester. 
Then  you  think  she  will  come  ? 

Lady    Ursula. 
I  —  I  think  she  will. 

Sylvester. 
Yet  in  case  she  shouldn't,  there  is  one  other  thing  I  will  beg  of 
jrou.     I  have  something  of  hers 

Lady    Ursula. 
[  Starting.  ]     You  have  something  of  hers  ? 

Sylvester. 

Which  I  mustn't  keep,  because  it's  not  by  her  will  or  gift  that 

I  have  it. 

Lady    Ursula. 

But  I  —  I  can't  think  what  it  is. 

Sylvester. 

[  Smiling.  ]     Why,  how  should  you  know  what  it  is  ?     It  was 
found  —  in  my  house. 

Lady    Ursula. 
In  your  house  ? 

Sylvester. 

Yes  —  or  perhaps  in  the  avenue.     She  must  have  dropped  it, 

may  be  in  her  —  her  faintness,  su",  or  as  she  hurried  away.     But  it 

is  certainly  hers.     It  has  her  name  on  it. 

Lady   Ursula. 
Her  name  ? 


98     The    ADVENTURE,    &c. 

Sylvester. 
Yes,  it  is  inscribed  —  Ursula.  [  Taking  out  Ursula's  hand- 
kerchief. ]  Give  it  her  and  say,  if  she  will  accord  me  her  for- 
giveness —  and  her  favour  —  let  her  bring  it  herself  again.  Here 
it  is,  sir.  [  Gives  her  the  handkerchief.  She  takes  it  timidly,  looks 
at  him  a  moment  and  turns  away  in  confusion.  Sylvester  smiles.^ 
Let  her  bring  it  to  me  again.  Good-night.  [  He  goes  up  to  door, 
pauses  and  turns.  ^  Tell  her,  too,  that  she  is  in  my  thoughts. 
Good-night.  \^Stands  looking  and  smiling  at  her  a  moment ;  she 
does  not  look  at  him.  Then  he  goes  off.  Ursula  stands  a  moment, 
looking  at  the  handkerchief,  j 

LadyUrsula. 

Has  he  guessed  ?     Did  he  know  me  ?     **If  I  have  not  seen 

her,"  he  said.     And  —  what  was  it?     **I  am  not  sure" 

And  where  was  this  found  ?  I  swear  I  didn't  drop  it  the  first 
time  !  And  if  I  dropped  it  the  time  I  —  the  second  time  !  Oh, 
I  can't  tell.  I'll  get  back  to  Edgware  immediately  to  Frank  — 
and  to  the  lady.  [  Laughs.  ]  The  lady  who  lives  near  Lady 
Ursula  —  to  the  lady  I  love  —  the  lady  they  toasted  with  —  with 
the  lady  whom  Sir  George  Sylvester  loves.  "Whom  he  loves." 
What  was  it  ?  "I  have  too  deep  an  interest  in  that  lady."  Oh, 
I'm  a  fool  !     It  was  nothing  but  a  ruse,  a  device  —  yet  he  looked 

Ah,  did  he  ?     How  did  he  look,  in  truth  how  did  he  look  ? 

**Tell  her  that  she  is  in  my  thoughts."  Oh,  I  am  mad  with  — 
with  —  I  don't  know  what  I  am  mad  with,  but  mad  I  am.     Did 

he  know  me  ?      Does  he [  Looks  at  handkerchief —  then 

half-laughing,  ha  If- sobbing.  ]  Oh  !  [  Kisses  handkerchief  twice 
and  then  hides  her  face  in  it.  ] 

CURTAIN 


ACT      IV 

About  twelve-thirty  a.  m.  Sylvester's  bouse  as  in 
Act  I.  At  tabki  L.,  Blimboe  sits  writing  a 
sermon.  Mills  stands  by  table  with  a  bunch 
of  large  keys  in  one  hand  and  a  candle  in  the  other. 
He  yawns  as  curtain  rises. 


Blimboe. 
EJDING  from  sermoa.']  Therefore,  brothers, 
the  world  being  full  of  snares  and  wickedness, 
it  is  beyond  all  else  necessary  and  expedient  that 
you  hearken  [  Mills  yatoffs,  Blimboe  /ooks  up  a 
moment,  then  goes  on~\  —  that  you  hearken  to 
the  words  of  my  text  and  quit  yourselves  like  men 

Mills. 
It  grows  late,  Mr.  Blimboe. 

Blimboe. 
[^  Reading. '\  And,  dear  sisters,  think  not  that  the  text  has  no 
application  to  you.  You  also  in  your  proper  manner  and  — 
[  Mills  yazons.  Blimboe  looks  up  —  then  goes  on  1^  —  sphere  of 
action  can,  and  should,  quit  yourselves  like  men.  For  it  is  not  the 
raiment  that  makes  the  man 


loo  The    ADVENTURE    of 

Mills. 
I  have  locked  the  door,  sir.     Shall  you  be  up  long  yet  ? 

B  L  1  M  B  O  E. 

Not  long,  not  long. 

Mills. 

It's  hard  on  one  o'clock,  sir. 

BlI  M  BOE. 

Go  to  bed,  go  to  bed.  Mills.     Leave  me  to  w^ork.     I  must  com- 
plete the  revision  of  my  sermon.     Where  was  I  ?     Ah,  yes.     It 

is  not  the  raiment 

Mills. 

Good-night,  sir.      \^Going  off.'\      The  sermon  don't  seem  to 
send  him  to  sleep  —  it  will  me,  though,  on  Sunday.     [  Goes  off,  R.'\ 

B  L  I  M  B  O  E. 

It  is  not  the  raiment  that  makes  the  true  man [  Lays  down 

paper.  ]  It  is  strange  that  sometimes  a  man's  thoughts  will  wander 
and  the  mind  be  full  of  alien  images.  To-night  my  mind  holds 
nothing  but  vanities  —  aye,  or  worse  —  duels  —  gallant  gentlemen 
to  fight  them  and  —  yes,  alas,  fair  ladies  to  cause  'em.  Yet  — 
[shaking  his  head'\  —  men  should  not  fight  duels  nor  should  ladies 
cause  'em.  Our  natures  are  perverse.  Come,  to  work  !  [  Takes 
up  paper.  ]     It  is  the  heart  that  makes  the  man,  and  a  weak  woman 

may  have  a  heart  as  bold [  Lets  paper  drop  and  jumps  up.  ] 

So  I  wager  —  at  least  I  do  not  wager  —  no  —  I  —  I  opine  has 
this  Lady  Ursula.  I  wdsh  I  had  seen  her,  but  she  was  in  bed. 
Why,  no  !  She  was  not  in  bed  !  She  was  —  ah,  now  where  was 
she  ?  At  least  she  was  not  to  be  seen.  Well,  well  !  [  Is  about 
to  sit  down,  when  a  loud  knocking  is  heard  off  L.~\  A  knock  !  Who 
is  it  at  this  time  ?  Can  Sir  George  have  come  back  ?  [  Knock  re- 
peated. J     Ah,  and  Mills  has  gone  to  bed.     I  must  open  the  door 


The    LADY    URSULA     loi 

myself.  [  Takes  candle  from  table  and  goes  up,  L.  Pauses.'^  It 
may  not  be  Sir  George.  I  don't  know  who  it  may  be.  [  Crosses 
R.  to  jireplace.\  At  this  hour  there  may  be  need  of  carnal 
weapons.  [  Takes  up  a  poker  and,  crossing  to  L.,  goes  off  cautiously. 
A  pause.  Then  the  noise  of  bolts  drawn  back  and  a  cry  of  surprise 
from  Blimboe.  Enter  Blimboe  in  amazement,  followed  by  Dor- 
othy in  agitation."]  Miss  —  Miss  Fenton  !  In  heaven's  name, 
what  brings  you  here  ? 

Dorothy. 
[  Coming  down,  C.  ]     Oh,  where,  where,  where  is  Ursula  ? 

Blimboe. 
[^Putting  down  candle  and  coming  Z.  ]     Lady  Ursula  ?     Where 
is  Lady  Ursula  ?     Why,  surely  she's  in  bed  ?     No,  I  should  say 
—  surely  she's  gone  to  London  ? 

Dorothy. 

Alas,  sir,  she's  neither  in  bed,  nor,  so  far  as  I  know,  gone  to 

London.     She  went  out  —  I  promised  to  sit  up  and  let  her  in. 

My  aunt  thought  she  was  gone  to  bed  with  a  headache.     I  waited 

but  she  didn't  return.     So  I  pretended  to  go  to  bed  —  and  I  have 

run  here  all  alone,  all  the  way.     Surely,  surely  she's  here,  Mr. 

Blimboe  ? 

Blimboe. 

Surely  here  ?    Surely  not  here  !    Can  you  suppose,  madam 

Dorothy. 

Not  here  !     Oh,  what  has  become  of  her  ? 

Blimboe. 

How  could  she  be  here  ?     It  would  be 

Dorothy. 

Oh,  it  would  be  —  be  all  that  it  shouldn't  be,  I  know  that  well. 
But  where  is  she  ?     She  came  here  —  she  came  here  this  evening. 


102  The    ADVENTURE    of 

B  L  I  M  B  O  £. 

[  Looks  at  bevt  goes  and  puts  poker  down  on  table  and  comes  to  her.  ] 

Did  she  come  here  ? 

Dorothy. 

Yes,  yes.     It  was  a  secret,  of  course,  but  I  must  tell  you  now. 

For  I'm  at  my  wits*  end  and  you  may  be  able  to  help  me.     If  my 

aunt    should  discover  her  absence  or  —  oh,    if  Lord  Hassenden 

should  return  and  find  her  absent [  Going  close  to  him,  ] 

Speak,  for  heaven's  sake,  speak,  Mr.  Blimboe.     She  may  have  been 

murdered. 

Blimboe. 

You  say  she  came  here  ? 

Dorothy. 

Yes  —  yes  —  about  eight  o'clock  —  dressed  —  dressed  as  you  are. 

Blimboe. 
f  Looking  down  at  his  clothes.  ]     Dressed  as  I  am  ! 

Dorothy. 

Oh,  not  exactly  as  you  are,  but  in  —  in Oh,  as  a  man, 

you  know. 

Blimboe. 
As  a  man  ! 

Dorothy. 

Pretending  to  be  her  brother  Walter. 

Blimboe. 
Heavens  above  us  !     [  Drops  into  a  chair ^  L.  ] 

Dorothy. 

She  should  have  been  back  long  ago,  but  I've  not  seen  her 

since. 

Blimboe. 

As  a  man  !     [  He  sits  a  moment,  then  begins  to  laugh.  ]     It  was 


The    LADY    URSULA     103 

she,  then  !     By  all  that's  wonderful,  it  was  she  !     Oh,  ha,  ha! 
—  and  Sir  George Oh,  ha,  ha  ! 

Dorothy. 

[  Indignant. "^     You're  laughing  !    I  declare  you  are.     Oh,  how 

can  you  laugh  ? 

B  L  I  M  B  O  E. 

[  Suddenly  grave.  ]  I  laughing  !  I  laugh  !  My  dear  lady  ! 
No,  no.  I  don't  laugh.  I  —  I  deplore  !  I  laugh  at  a  thing  so 
unseemly  as  for  a  young  lady  —  a  young  lady  of  rank,  too  —  sister 
to  my  Lord  Hassenden  —  to  come  —  to  come  alone  —  to  a  gentle- 
man's house  in  —  in  —  in  what  I  wear  —  and 

Dorothy. 
Oh,  I  know  all  that,  Mr.  Blimboe,  but 

B  L  I  M  B  O  E. 

Laugh  indeed  !     I'm  aghast.  Miss  Fenton,  quite  aghast. 

Dorothy. 

For  pity's  sake,  tell  me  —  is  she  here,  or  what  has  become  of  her  ? 

Blimboe. 

[  Smiling  again.  ]  To  think  of  it  !  Oh,  her  air,  her  jaunty 
walk,  her  laced  hat,  her  shoes,  the  turn  of  her 

Dorothy. 

Mr.  Blimboe  ! 

Blimboe. 
[  Starting."]     I  —  I  beg  your  pardon.     Well,  Miss  Fenton,  I 
can  give  you  information.     The  gentleman  you  seek 

Dorothy. 

The  gentleman  ? 

Blimboe. 

I  should  say  the  lady  —  yes,  the  lady.  Miss  Fenton.     The  lady 


lo^T&e    ADVENTURE    of 

took  his  leave  —  her  leave,  I  mean  —  very  hastily,  and  set  out 
in  his  — in  her  chaise  for  London  about  nine  o'clock. 

Dorothy. 

Then  she  has  gone  to  London  ? 

B  L  I  M  B  O  E. 

Oh,  yes,  he's  gone  to  London.     [  Dorothy  /ooh  at  him.  ]    She 
—  she's  gone  to  London. 

Dorothy. 

But  v^here  in  London  ? 

Blimboe. 
Oh,  that  I  don't  know.     Sir  George  was  to  go  with  her  — — 

Dorothy. 

Sir  George  with  her  ?     Worse  and  worse  1 

Blimboe. 
But,  as  I  was  about  to  observe,  he  did  not.  She  evaded  him 
and  escaped  alone.  He  followed  soon  afterwards  in  his  own  chaise. 
Beyond  that  I  know  nothing.  [  A  pause.  Dorothy  stands  aghast. 
Blimboe  goes  to  table,  takes  up  paper,  looks  at  it  a  moment,  and  then 
reads  in  an  absent  tone.'\  It  is  not  the  raiment  that  makes  the  true 
man,  it  is  the  heart  and [  Sits  slowly  L.  of  table.  J 

Dorothy. 

Oh,  what  are  you  talking  of?     And  meanwhile  Ursula  may 

be [^  Shudders.^     Well,  I  must  go  home.      No,  I  daren't 

go  home.     I  must  stay  here.     [^Sits  R.  of  table.     Blimboe  drops 
paper  and  looks  across  at  her.  ] 

Blimboe. 

[  Slowly.  ]     You  must  stay  here.  Miss  Fenton  ? 

Dorothy. 
Yes,  till  Ursula  comes. 


The    LADY    URSULA     105 

B  L  I  M  B  O  E. 
But,  my  dear  young  lady,  I  apprehend  —  and  —  er  —  I  may 
add,  hope  —  that  Lady  Ursula  will  not  come  —  not  to-night,  at 
all  events.     It's  so  —  so  very  late. 

Dorothy. 

I  must  wait  in  case  she  should.  Besides,  I  daren't  face  my 
aunt  —  nor  Frank.  No!  I'll  stay  here.  \^Points  to  paper. ^ 
Oh,  go  on  with  your  work.     I  won't  interrupt  you. 

B  L  I  M  B  O  E. 
But,  my  dear  Mbs  Fenton 

Dorothy. 

I  shall  stay.     Pray  don't  discuss  it  with  me.     I  do  you  no  harm, 

Mr.  Blimboe. 

B  L  I  M  B  O  E. 

You  do  me  no  harm,  certainly.  But  —  pray  excuse  me  —  if 
—  anybody  came  ? 

Dorothy, 
Anybody  came  ?     [  Jumping  up.  ]     Why,  who  should  come  ? 

Blimboe. 
If  you  were  found  here  ? 

Dorothy. 

Who  should  find  me  here  ?     [  Goes  door,  R.  ] 

Blimboe. 

In  all  likelihood  indeed,  nobody  —  but  I  am  here. 

Dorothy. 

[  Turning  and  looking  at  bim.  ]     Oh  —  you  ? 

Blimboe. 

And  —  and [  Rising  and  going  L.  ]    Now  I  wonder  how 

such  a  thing  would  present  itself  to  the  Bishop's  mind  ? 


io6Tbe    ADVENTURE    of 

Dorothy. 

My  errand  is  harmless.  [  Advancing  towards  him.  ]  Mr.  Blim- 
boe,  let  who  will  come.     I  am  only  seeking  Ursula.     I  would  face 

all  the  world. 

B  L  I  M  B  O  £. 

Yes,  yes,  all  the  world,  but  —  but  what  about  the  Bishop  ? 
Dorothy. 

Pm  afraid  —  let  all  the  world [^  knock  is  heard  off  L.'\ 

A  knock  !     Oh,  that  must  be  Ursula  !     Thank  heaven  !    I'll  run 

and  let  her  in.     [  Runs  L.     Blimboe  intercepts  her  and  brings  her 

down  again.  J 

Blimboe. 

It  won*t  be  Lady  Ursula.     She  won't  come  back. 

Dorothy 

Not  Ursula  !    Not  Ursula  !    Then  who  is  it  ?    I  can't  be  seen, 

I  can't  be 

Blimboe. 

But  you  said  just  now 

Dorothy. 

Just  now  !  Oh,  what  does  it  matter  what  I  said  just  now  ?  You 
must  hide  me,  if  it's  not  Ursula.  See,  I'll  run  behind  that  curtain 
there.  If  it's  Ursula,  I'll  come  out,  if  it's  anybody  else,  you  must 
send  them  away  and [  Knocking  repeated.  ] 

Blimboe. 
But  if  it's  Sir  George  himself? 

Dorothy, 

Sir  George  !  Oh,  then  you  must  send  him  to  bed  —  or  perhaps 
I'll  come  out  and  ask  him  where  Ursula  is.    Won't  he  be  surprised  ? 

Blimboe. 

Undoubtedly.     [  Knocking  repeated.  ] 


The    LADY    URSULA     107 

Dorothy. 
Quick,  quick,  or  the  whole  house  will  be  roused.  See,  here  I 
am  !  [  She  runs  back,  goes  behind  the  curtain  and  peeps  out.  Blim- 
BOE  stands  a  minute,  shakes  his  bead,  takes  candle  and  poker  from  the 
door  and  goes  off,  L.  A  pause.  Dorothy  looks  out  from  curtains.'^ 
Who  is  it  ?     Who  is  it  ? 

Hassenden. 
[  Speaking,  off.'\     But  I  will  come  in,  sir  !     Stand  aside  ! 

Dorothy. 

[  Peeping  out,  ]    Mercy,  it's  Frank  !    Oh,  if  he  found  me  here  ! 
[^  Hides.      Enter   Hassenden   impetuously,  followed  by   Blimboe. 
Hassenden  is  in  riding-dress,  and  spattered  with  mud,  ] 
Hassenden. 
[  Coming  down.  ]     Now,  sir,  you  are  a  parson  ? 

Blimboe. 
\JjOoking  round  nervously,  then  putting  candle  down  and  coming 
L.,  still  holding  poker.  ~\    A  clerk  in  holy  orders,  my  lord,  at  your 

service. 

Hassenden. 

Then,  sir,  it  ill  becomes  you  to  screen  villainy,  or  to  live  in  a 

house  where  villainy  is  practiced. 

Blimboe. 
Villainy  ? 

Hassenden. 
Aye,  sir,   rank  villainy.     The  lady  may  have  been  rash  and 

indiscreet 

Blimboe. 

Indeed,  since  you  say  so 


Hassenden. 
Peace,  sir  !     It  is  worse  villainy  to  take  advantage  of  her  inno- 
cence.    I  ask  you,  sir,  where  is  my 


loS   Tbe    ADVENTURE    of 

B  L  I  M  B  O  £. 

[  Confused.  ]     Your  —  your  betrothed,  my  lord  ? 

Hassenden. 
My  betrothed  ?     Now  what  in  the  devil's  name  has  my  be- 
trothed to  do  with  the  matter  ? 

B  L  I  M  B  O  E. 
True,  true.     Of  course,  my  lord,  nothing.     I  —  I  grew  con- 
fused.    I  —  I  was  not  in  truth  thinking  of  your  betrothed. 

Hassenden. 
The  deuce  take  your  thoughts,  sir  !    Where  is  my  sister  ?    Where 
is  Lady  Ursula  ?     [  Blimboe  drops  into  chair ^  L.'\     Aye,  and  where 
is  your  friend  and  patron.  Sir  George  Sylvester  ? 

Blimboe. 
[Despairingly.  ]     I  don't  know,  my  lord  —  I  don't  know. 

Hassenden. 

There  was  more  in  that  fainting  fit  than  I  knew  of.  [  Crosses  to 
Blimboe  and  shakes  him  by  the  shoulder. '\  Listen,  sir,  listen. 
[Dorothy  looks  out  in  fright. '\  I  was  engaged  in  a  quarrel  with 
Sir  George.  I  had  to  go  to  London.  I  came  home  at  midnight. 
What  do  I  find  there,  sir,  what  do  I  find  there  ? 

Blimboe. 

I  don't  know.     I  don't  know  even  what  you'll  find  here. 

Hassenden. 

[Looking  round.     "Dokothy  hides  hastily.']     Here!      No,  nor 

I,  cither.     On  my  return,  sir,  I  found  Miss  Fenton  gone  to  bed 

in 

Blimboe. 

Gone  to  bed  !     Oh,  dear  !     Oh,  dear  ! 


The    LADY    URSULA     109 

Hassenden. 
Gone  to  bed  in  hysterics,  sir,  and  her  aunt  weeping  in  the  hall. 
And  why  ?  [  Dorothy  looks  out  again.  ]  Because  my  sister  had 
gone  to  this  house  at  eight  o'clock  —  and  in  man's  clothes  —  so 
help  me,  masquerading  as  her  brother  —  before  God  —  in  breeches, 
sir  —  and  now  at  twelve  —  at  twelve,  sir  —  has  not  returned.  Is 
she  here,  sir  ?  Where  is  she  ?  You're  a  parson,  but  by  heaven 
I'll  have  the  truth  of  you,  if  I  have  it  at  my  sword's  point. 

B  L  I  M  B  O  E. 
Lord  have  mercy  on  us  ! 

Hassenden. 

Is  she  here,    I  say  ?     [  Looks  round.      Dorothy  bides  again 
hastily.  ] 

Blimboe. 

No,  no ;  she's  not  here  —  Lady  Ursula  is  not  here. 

Hassenden. 
Sir,  I  will  not  take  your  word  for  it. 

Blimboe. 

\^Rising.'\     My  lord,  you  are  offensive.     U  I  were  not  of  a 

sacred  profession 

Hassenden. 
I  think  you're  somewhat  late  in  remembering  your  profession, 
sir.  I  know  I  cannot  fight  you,  but  \^be  half- draws  bis  sword'\ 
you  stand  in  my  way  at  your  peril  !  [  Blimboe  raises  poker.  1  Out 
of  the  way,  sir  !  [Dorothy  looks  out.'\  I'll  search  every  nook 
[  Dorothy  bides  again  ]  and  cranny  of  the  house,  but  I'll  find  her. 

Blimboe. 

Lady  Ursula  is  not  here  —  I  swear  to  you,  she  isn't  here 


iioTbe    ADVENTURE    of 

Hassenden. 

Then  there's  no  harm  done  by  my  searching.  Stand  aside,  sir  ! 
[Blimboe  edges  up  between  Hassenden  and  the  curtains.^  Stand 
aside.  By  heaven,  I  believe  you  have  someone  here  !  Answer 
me,  sir  !  Is  anyone  here  ?  [  Dorothy  peeps  out,  bides,  but  leaves 
a  portion  of  her  skirt  visible.'^  I'll  look  for  myself,  sir.  [  Blimboe 
glances  round,  sees  skirt  and  coughs  loudly.  Hassenden  stares  at  him 
suspiciously.  He  looks  up  at  ceiling.  So  does  Hassenden.  Then 
Blimboe  steals  a  glance  round.  Hassenden  catches  him  and  sees 
skirt.'\  There,  there  !  [  Rushes  up  back.  Blimboe  catches  hold 
of  him.  ]     Let  me  go,  sir,  let  me  go  !     [  Skirt  vanishes.  ] 

Blimboe. 

But  —  but  it  was  a  skirt,  my  lord,  and  Lady  Ursula 

Hassenden. 
Oh,  Sir  George  may  have  more  resources  than  we  know  of,  sir. 

You' 11.  not  let  me  go  ?     So [  Pushes  Blimboe  back  violently, 

L.  Goes  up  and  lays  hold  of  the  curtain.  ]  I  prefer  to  know  the 
worst.  [  He  pulls  back  the  curtain,  discovering  Dorothy,  who  has 
hidden  her  face  in  her  hands  and  so  stands.  ]  By  God  !  She's 
here  !  [  Falls  back  aghast.  At  this  moment  Sylvester  appears  in 
the  doorway  in  his  riding-dress  and  boots.  Blimboe,  L.,  leaning  on 
table  on  which  he  has  laid  the  poker.     A  short  pause.  J 

Sylvester. 
Why  —  why  —  what's  this  ?      The  door  standing  open  and 

[  advancing  ]  Lord  Hassenden  here  !      And [  Hassenden 

hearing  his  voice,  turns.  ]     And 

Hassenden. 

Yes,  I,  Sir  George  —  and [  Steps  up  to  Dorothy  and 

moves  her  hands  from  her  face, '\  No,  not  Ursula  !  Good  heavens 
—  Dorothy  I 


The    LADY    URSULA     m 

B  L  I  M  B  O  E. 

[  Sinking  into  a  chair.  ]     Oh,  Lord  help  us  now  ! 

Dorothy. 

I  —  I  —  I [  Clasping  her  bands.  ]     Oh,  Frank,  it  might 

have  been  Ursula  ! 

Hassenden. 

I  admire  your  ingenuity  in  finding  matter  for  consolation,  madame. 
It  might  have  been  my  sister  —  it  is  only  my  future  wife. 

Dorothy. 

[  Running  down  to  Blimboe.  ]     Oh,  Mr.  Blimboe,  must  we  tell 

him  the  truth  ? 

Blimboe. 

Well,  madame,  the  circumstances  are  desperate. 

Hassenden. 
Sir  George  Sylvester,  how  comes  that  lady  in  your  house  ? 

Sylvester. 

[  Coming  down,  C.  ]  I  should  suggest  that  you  ask  the  lady. 
[Hassenden  goes  dozen,  R.,  impatiently.^  For  myself,  I  should 
be  glad  to  hear  the  answer  to  that  question  —  and  to  one  other. 
How  come  you  here,  my  lord  ? 

Hassenden. 
I  came  to  seek  my  sister. 

Dorothy. 

So  did  I,  Frank. 

Hassenden. 
[  To  Dorothy.]     You  knew  she  came  here,  then  ? 

Dorothy. 

Oh,  dear  !  [  Turns  again  to  Blimboe,  who  takes  her  hand  and 
pats  it.-] 


112   7^^    ADVENTURE    of 

Hassenden. 
\To  Sylvester.  J    And  you,  sir,  knew  that  my  sister  came  here  ? 

Sylvester. 
No,  my  lord,  I  know  nothing.     I  may  have  my  opinion. 

Hassenden. 
And  that  she  is  here  ? 

B  L  I  M  B  O  E. 
[  Starting  up.  ]     No,  no. 

Sylvester. 
Pray  don't  interpose,  Mr.  Blimboe.  [  Blimboe //«ij  ^^ri.  ]  At 
last  I  can  meet  Lord  Hassenden  without  an  intermediary.  [  To 
Hassenden.  ]  The  house  lies  open  to  you,  my  lord.  Pray 
search  it.  You  have  found  one  lady  here.  You  may  find  an- 
other. Who  knows,  who  knows  ?  Ladies  come  even  to  houses 
where  their  presence  is  least  looked  for  and  in  no  way  invited. 
You  and  I  know  that,  my  lord.  Blimboe,  pray  take  a  candle  and 
guide  Lord  Hassenden.  That  door,  my  lord,  ^pointing  R.'\  gives 
access  to  the  stairs.  I  beg  you  to  search  —  search  thoroughly. 
For  all  I  know,  the  whole  village  may  be  hiding  in  my  house. 

Hassenden. 

I  will  go.     I  do  not  trust  you.     [  Sylvester  iotas  low.      To 

Blimboe.]     Come,  sir.      [Blimboe  rises,  takes  candle  from  table. 

Hassenden  motions  him  to  precede  him,  and  with  a  bow  to  ^\iM^%- 

TZ^t  follows  him  off,  R.     Sylvester  crosses  hastily  to  Dorothy.] 

Sylvester. 
Go  after  them.     Tell  him  what  you  know  j   let  Blimboe  tell 
what  he  knows.     I  left  Lady  Ursula  at  his  own  rooms  in  London 
about  eleven  o'clock.     After  that  I  know  nothing. 


The    LADY    URSULA     113 


Dorothy, 

Oh,  shaU  you  fight,  after  all  ? 

Sylvester. 
I  don't  think  so 

Dorothy. 

But  when  he  comes  back 


Sylvester. 
[Sfniling.'\     When  he  comes  back,  I  shan't  be  here.     If  I  stay 
he'll  force  another  quarrel.     Keep  him  ten  minutes  and  I  shall  be 
beyond  his  reach.      My  horse  is  still  at  the  door. 

Dorothy. 

You  —  you'll  run  away  ? 

Sylvester. 
Yes.  Quick,  after  them  !  Try  to  quiet  him.  Go,  go.  [  He 
leads  her  R.,  and  she  runs  off.  He  stands  looking  after  her.  ]  I'll 
be  off.  Heaven  save  us,  what  a  position  !  God  help  all  our  repu- 
tations !  [  Ursula  appears  in  door,  L,,  in  her  own  dress,  and  stands 
looking  at  him  with  a  smile.  ]  It  would  scarcely  have  been  worse 
had  he  in  very  truth  found  Ursula.  Ah,  but  what's  become  of  the 
pretty  madcap  ?     Faith,  I'd  love  to  see  her  !     What's  become  of 

her? 

Lady    Ursula. 

I  —  I  don't  know  what  will  —  if —  if  my  brother  isn't  here. 

Sylvester, 

[  Turning  and  starting.  ]     Lady  Ursula  ! 

Lady    Ursula. 
Yes,  yes  —  but  pray  don't  shout  my  name  so  loud.     [  Coming 
down.  ]    Oh,  Sir  George,  Sir  George,  what  a  quiet,  peacefiil  world 
it  would  be  if  there  were  no  men  in  it ! 


ii^TJbe    ADVENTURE    of 

Sylvester. 

Perhaps,  madame.     And  I  think  there  is  at  least,  since  eleven 
o'clock,  one  less  in  it  ! 

LadyUrsula. 
I  will  deal  fairly  with  you  —  I  will  confess  nothing. 

Sylvester. 
Nay,  I'll  deal  handsomely  with  you  —  I  will  assert  nothing. 

Lady    Ursula. 
And  I  will  deny  nothing. 

Sylvester. 
Why,  then,  I  will  question  nothing. 

Lady    Ursula. 

Moreover  —  I  will  remember  nothing. 

Sylvester. 
To  match  you  —  I  will  forget  nothing. 

Lady   Ursula. 

You  don't  please  me  there.     I  wish  that  you  should  forget 

Sylvester. 
Everything  ? 

Lady    Ursula. 
[  Smiling.  ]     At  least  —  something. 

Sylvester. 
Well  —  I  will  forget  Mr.  Barrington 

Lady    Ursula. 
[  Courtseying.  ]     You  are  swift  to  divine  my  wishes. 

Sylvester. 
In  the  presence  of  Lady  Ursula  —  but,  on  my  soul,  only  then. 


The    LADY    URSULA     115 

Lady    Ursula. 
And,  alas,   I  shall  not  be  with  you  often,      [Sylvester  ad- 
vances a  step  towards  ber.  ]     Oh,  I'm  forgetting  my  brother.     Is 

he  here  ? 

Sylvester. 

I  must  confess  that  he's  somewhere  in  the  house. 

Lady    Ursula. 
Oh,  where,  where  ?     And  what  is  he  doing  ? 

Sylvester. 
To  be  frank  —  he  is  searching  the  house  for  you.  Lady  Ursula. 

Lady    Ursula. 
He  thinks  I  am  here  ! 

Sylvester. 
Such  notions  get  into  a  young  man's  hot  head. 

Lady    Ursula. 
Is  he  angry  ? 

Sylvester. 

Monstrously  !     Did  you  come  to  seek  him  ? 

Lady   Ursula. 

Yes,  to  seek  him  and  Dorothy. 

Sylvester. 
[  Smiling.  ]     And  for  no  other  purpose  ? 

Lady    Ursula. 
[  Smiling.  ]     Pray,  is  Dorothy  here  ? 

Sylvester. 
For  no  other  purpose  under  heaven  ? 

Lady   Ursula. 

I  —  I  didn't  expect  to  find  you  here. 


ii6The    ADVENTURE    of 

Sylvester. 
You  would  have  come  —  and  gone  —  and  never  let  me  know  ? 

Lady   Ursula. 

Yes,  indeed  —  unless 

Sylvester. 
[  Going  nearer  to  her.  ]     Unless  what.  Lady  Ursula  ? 

Lady    Ursula. 
Unless  I  chanced  again  to  drop  my  handkerchief.     [  A  pause,  j 

Sylvester. 
[  Low.  ]     Will  you  give  it  me  ?     Indeed,  you  owe  it  me. 

Lady    Ursula. 
How  does  this  request  agree  vdth  your  vow,  sir  ?     Should  he 
beg  a  lady's  handkerchief  who  has  sworn  never  to  see  a  lady's  fece  ? 

Sylvester. 

The  oath  was  improvident.     I  awa.  it.     Yet,  having  sworn,  I 

will  observe  it. 

Lady    Ursula. 

You  will  observe  it !     Why,  then 

Sylvester. 
Save  by  the  merest  hair's  breadth. 

Lady   Ursula. 
Ah! 

Sylvester. 

For  I  break  it  by  the  merest  hair's  breadth,  \S  [he  comes  close  fo 

ber~\  if  henceforward  I  see  only  one.     Give  me  the  handkerchief. 

Lady    Ursula. 
I  think  —  I  think  we  are  forgetting  my  brother. 


The    LADY    URSULA     117 

Sylvester. 
[  Sighing.  ]     I  think  I  am  forgetting  my  flight.     I  was  about  to 
escape  when  you  arrived. 

Lady    Ursula. 
To  escape  ? 

Sylvester. 

From  your  brother's  fury,  unless,  indeed,  he  is  pacified  by  what 

he  hears  from  Miss  Fenton  and  from  Blimboe. 

Lady   Ursula. 

Surely  he  will  be  —  and  there  will  be  nothing  then  for  you  to 
escape  from. 

Sylvester. 

Indeed,  there  will  then  be  nothing  that  I  can,  or  would,  escape 
from.  [  Foices  ^Hassenden  and  Blimboe  off"  R. 

Lady    Ursula. 
Ah,  what's  that  ?     Is  that  my  brother  ? 

Sylvester. 
I  fear  it  is.     And  he  won't  have  found  you. 

Lady   Ursula. 

No  —  and  he  shan't.     I'll  hide  !     Where  shall  I  hide  ? 

Sylvester. 
No,  no,  you  mustn't 

Lady    Ursula. 
Yes,  but  I  will !     I  wouldn't  have  him  find  me  here.     Where 
shall  I  hide  ?     [  Looks  round.  ]     Ah,  the  curtains  !  [  Runs  up. 

Sylvester. 
[  Pursuing  her.  ]    No,  no  —  in  heaven's  name,  not  the  curtains  ! 

Lady    Ursula. 
[  Pausing  a  moment.  ]     Why  not ! 


11^   The    ADVENTURE    of 

Sylvester. 
Because  — because  Miss [  Foices  again  just  off. 

Lady    Ursula. 
There's  no  time  for  anywhere  else.      See,  I'm  hidden  safe  ! 
[Gets  behind  curtains. "^ 

Sylvester. 

Yes  —  so  was  Miss^  Dorothy.  [  Turns  and  comes  down  hastily 
as  Hassenden  enters  R.j  followed  by  Dorothy  and  Blimboe.  They 
remain  R.,  Hassenden  comes  R.  C.,  to  where  Sylvester  is.  ]  Well, 
my  lord,  you  have  searched  —  and  not  found  what  you  sought  ? 

Hassenden. 
No,  Sir  George,  I  have  not  searched  —  and  I  will  not  search. 
I  have  been  informed  of  all  that  has  passed  by  Miss  Fenton  and 
Mr.  Blimboe,  and  \^pause'\  in  truth  I  must  admit  that  it  is  you,  not 
I,  who  have  cause  for  complaint. 

Sylvester. 
I  complain  of  nothing  in  what  has  passed. 

Hassenden. 
You,  not  I,  are  entitled  to  satisfaction. 

Sylvester. 
So  far  as  matters  have  gone,  my  lord,  I  am  most  heartily  satisfied. 

Hassenden. 

I  am  ready  to  answer  for  my  sister's  fault.     It  is  in  excuse  for 

her,  not  for  myself,  that  I  beg  you  to  remember  her  youth  and 

ignorance. 

Sylvester. 

In  my  eyes.  Lad/  Ursula  needs  no  defence. 

Hassenden. 
She  meant  to  save  me  from  a  danger  into  which  her  own  thought- 


The    LADY     URSULA     119 

lessness  had  brought  me.     However  mistaken  her  action,  I  can't 
find  it  in  my  heart  to  be  hard  on  her. 

Sylvester. 
It  is  the  last  thing  that  I  should  find  in  my  own  heart.     May  we 
then  be  fiiends,  according  to  her  wish  ? 

Hassenden. 

I  desire  nothing  better.     And  after  all  that  I  have  heard,  it  is  but 

as  a  form  that  I  beg  the  pledge  of  your  word  — your  simple  word 

as  a  gentleman 

Sylvester, 

To  secrecy  ?     Assuredly  it  is  yours  ! 

Hassenden. 
That  I  am  sure  of.     But  I  didn't  mean  that. 

Sylvester. 
What  then  ?     I  am  at  your  service  absolutely. 

Hassenden. 
Why,  merely  your  word  that  my  sister  is  not  here. 

Dorothy. 

^Coming forward."]^     Yes,  and  then  we  can  go  and  seek  her. 
She  must  be  at  home  by  now. 

B  L  I  M  B  O  E. 

r  Coming  forward,  ]     And  so  the  whole  matter  ends. 

Hassenden. 
It  is  with  that  object  that  I  beg  the  favour  of  Sir  George's  as- 
surance. 

Sylvester. 

^Etnbarrassed.'\     Ah,  yes,  yes.     True.     You  ask  my  —  merely 
my 


i2oTbe    ADVENTURE    of 
Dorothy. 

Just  your  word  that  Ursula  is  not  here. 

Hassenden. 
That  my  sister  is  not  here. 

Blimboe. 

Exactly  —  exactly  —  that  Lady  Ursula  is  not  here. 

Sylvester. 
Come,    now,    1*11    explain    the    whole    matter  —  the    entire 
affair 

Hassenden. 
No,  no. 

Sylvester. 

From  —  from    the   very    beginning.       It    was    at  four  o'clock 

that 

Dorothy. 

Pray  do  not  rehearse  the  whole  story  again.  Sir  George. 

Hassenden. 

No  need,  believe  me,  no  need  !    Your  mere  assurance  sends  me 

away  content. 

Dorothy. 

Indeed  it  is  late,  and  we  should  all  be  abed. 

Blimboe. 

Aye  —  and  I  have  my  sermon  still  to  finish. 

Sylvester. 

My  lord  —  you  —  you  do  me  wrong  to  ask  the  pledge  of  my 
word  from  me.  [  All  show  surprise,  Hassenden  anger. 

Hassenden. 

Seeing  your  strange  hesitation,  sir,  I  begin  to  think  that  I  do 
wrong  to  offer  to  accept  it. 


The    LADY    URSULA     121 

Dorothy. 
[  Going  to  Hassenden  and  laying  band  on  bis  arm.  ]    Frank,  Frank  ! 

Sylvester. 

[  Angrily. '\      My  lord,  you 

Blimboe. 
[  Going  to  Sylvester  and  restraining  bitn.  ]    Sir  George  !    [Syl- 
vester and  HAssENVKif  /ront  one  another.     A  pause.  ] 

Hassenden. 
[  With  a  sneering  laugh.  ]     We  have  peacemakers  again,  I  see 

—  more  peacemakers. 

Sylvester. 

I  will  not  quarrel.      My  lord,  you  put  me  to  my  word.     I  do 

—  I  do  not  like  the  test :  but  I  have  no  alternative.     Since  you 
put  me  to  it,  I  will [  Ursula  peefs  out. 

Hassenden. 

You'll  give  it  ?     Ah,  I  knew  you  would.     I  wronged  you.     I 

will  ask  no  more. 

Sylvester. 
Yes,  I  wUl 

Lady    Ursula. 

[  Stepping  out  from  behind  the  curtains.  ]  No.  [  All  turn  to 
her  and  start.  ] 

Hassenden. 

Ursula  ! 

Dorothy. 

Heaven  save  us,  Ursula  ! 

Lady   Ursula. 

I  am  here.  I  will  not  have  this  gentleman  dishonour  his  word 
for  me.  [  Coming  down,  C.  ]  Frank,  for  me  he  has  done  every- 
thing.    For  me  he  has  given  up  a  just  quarrel  with  you  —  for  me 


122   The    ADVENTURE    of 

his  house  has  been  invaded  —  for  me  he  has  faced  the  contempt  of 
his  friends  —  for  me  his  vow  not  to  fight  has  been  endangered,  his 
vow  to  see  no  woman,  broken.  And  for  me  he  —  he  has  declared 
in  public,  in  face  of  ridicule,  a  —  a  feeling  that  he  could  not  enter- 
tain. To  shelter  my  good  fame  he  has  done  all  this.  But  he  shall 
not  dishonour  his  word  for  me.  You  ask  him  if  I  am  here.  Here 
I  am.  [  A  pause. 

Hassenden. 

\Slowly.  ]     But  how  did  you  come  here  —  and  when  ? 

Lady    Ursula. 
A  few  moments  ago.     The  chaise  is  now  at  the  door  with  Quil- 
ton  —  question  the  man  if  you  will.     I  heard  you  had  come  here, 
and  I  came  to  seek  you. 

Hassenden. 

Seeking  me  ?     [  Advancing  towards  her.  ]     Is  that  in  truth  all, 

Ursula  ? 

Dorothy. 

Why,  for  what  else,  Frank  ? 

BlIM  BO  E. 

Surely  for  nothing  else,  my  lord  ? 

Lady    Ursula. 
For  nothing  else,  I  vow  !     Ah,  you  believe  me,  Frank  ? 

Hassenden. 

[  Smiting.  ]     Why,  yes,  I  believe  you.     [  Takes  her  hands  and 

turns  to  Sylvester.  ]     And  once  again,  I  must  beg  forgiveness  of 

Sir  George. 

Sylvester, 

You,  my  lord,  I  do  most  heartily  forgive.     But  it  is  hard  for  me 
to  do  the  like  for  Lady  Ursula.  > 


The    LADY    URSULA     123 

Lady    Ursula. 
[  Feigning  surprise.  ]     Why,  what's  your  quarrel  with  me.  Sir 
George  ?     I  protest  that  when  I  left  you  to  go  behind  the  curtains, 
you  were  in  the  most  amiable  temper  with  me. 

Sylvester. 

My  quarrel,  madame,  is  a  grave  one  —  it  is  that  you  come  for 
nothing  else  than  —  to  seek  your  brother. 

Lady    Ursula. 
[  Smiling.  ]     Add,  then,  sir,  for  the  pleasure  of  your  company. 

Sylvester. 

No,  I  am  not  appeased. 

Lady    Ursula. 
[  Recollecting.  ]     Ah  !     Indeed,  Frank,  I  was  wrong.     There 
was  another  purpose.     There  was  a  trifle  that  Sir  George  asked  of 
—  of  Mr.  Barrington. 

Sylvester. 
Yes.     If  Lady  Ursula  gave  me  her  forgiveness  and  her  favour,  I 
begged  Mr.  Barrington  to  prevail  on  her  to  bring  me  again  her 

handkerchief. 

Hassenden. 
Her  handkerchief! 

B  L  I  M  B  O  E. 

My  lord,  when  Mr.  Barrington  came  he  chanced  to  drop  his 

handkerchief. 

Dorothy. 

Yes,    Frank  —  and   his   handkerchief  chanced   to   be    marked 

"Ursula." 

Lady    Ursula. 

I  came  also  to  discharge  that  errand.      But,  sir,  are  you  my 

friend  now  ? 


12^   TJbe    ADVENTURE    of 

Sylvester. 
I  will  change  that  name  only  for  a  better. 

Lady    Ursula. 
And  you  are  my  brother's  friend  ? 

Sylvester. 
For  your  sake  now,  soon  for  his  own. 

Dorothy. 

Oh,  there  will  be  no  duel,  then  ? 

Hassenden. 
[  Laughing.  ]     On  my  soul,  I  do  not  desire  one. 

Sylvester. 
Nay,  but  I  think  there  has  been  one. 

Hassenden. 
There  has  ? 

Sylvester. 

Between    Lady    Ursula   and   myself.      She  had  the  choice  of 

weapons  and 

Hassenden. 
And  she  chose 

Lady    Ursula. 
Those  that  your  sex  invented.     Don't  lay  the  blame  on  us. 

Hassenden. 
And  whose  was  the  victory  ?     It  was  not,  J  trust,  like  Joicey  and 
Mc Arthur's,  a  life  and  death  encounter  ? 

Sylvester. 
I  may  not  name  the  stake,  my  lord  —  or  you  would  have  named 
it  for  me  —  a  life  and  death  encounter.     But,  at  least,  I  am  sore 
wounded. 


The    LADY    URSULA     125 


Dorothy. 

^Going  to  Ursula.]     Won't  you  bind  up  his  wounds  for  him, 

Ursula  ? 

Lady    Ursula. 

^Sby  and  laughing.^     I  —  I [^Suddenly  advances  to  Syl- 

VESTER,  holding  out  her  handkerchief.  ]  Yes,  let  him  take  —  and 
keep  this  handlcerchief.  [  As  she  gives  him  the  handkerchief,  be 
seizes  her  hands.  The  others  turn  away  and  go  up,  laughing. 
Ursula  and  Sylvester  stand  a  moment.  ] 

Sylvester. 
You  drew  the  loaded  pistol  —  and  I  —  fall.     [  He  kneels  and 
kisses  her  hand,  ] 


CURTAIN 


Printed  for  R.  H.  Russell  by  Redfield  Brothers,  at  40^-415 
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